Trump’s Merit-Based Immigration System Could Help Indians

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out a merit-based immigration system that will benefit foreigners, including hundreds and thousands of Indian professionals and skilled workers who are waiting to get “green cards” or permanent legal residency, reports NDTV.

The proposals significantly increase the quota for skilled workers from 12 to 57 per cent.

Under the proposed reforms, immigrants will be required to learn English and pass a civics exam prior to admission.

The policy is, however, unlikely to see the Congressional nod soon, given the bitter political divide between the Democrats, who have a majority in the House of Representatives, and the Republicans who control the Senate.

The US’ last immigration overhaul was 54 years ago.

Trump rued that the current system of legal immigration has failed to retain and attract talent and brilliant young people from across the globe. He was therefore proposing a merit-based immigration system wherein permanent legal residency would be given based on points for their age, knowledge, job opportunities and their civic sense.

Such a move is likely to benefit hundreds and thousands of Indian professionals on H-1B visa whose current Green Card wait, on an average, is more than a decade.