Now, ‘Einstein visa’ applicant facing 10-year retrogression in US Green Card process. Here's why

livemint.com:

In an unexpected turn of events, the dreams of thousands of skilled Indian professionals in the US seeking Green Cards have hit a roadblock. Renowned for its swift processing, the EB-1 route for individuals with exceptional talents or academic achievements has been a beacon of hope. However, the latest US Department of State's visa bulletin for August 2023 has unveiled a jolting 10-year retrogression for Indian EB-1 applicants, pushing the final action date back to January 1, 2012, from February 1, 2022.

This unprecedented setback has left many baffled, given the category's historical proximity to current status. Applicants with priority dates preceding the cut-off can apply, but the retrogression marks an unusual reversal in visa availability. Until recently, the EB-1 category for India has been close to being current, but now it's retrogressed by 10 years, surprising many.

So what is causing the setback? The EB-1 visa category, comprising EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C sub-categories, has witnessed varying trends due to the pandemic. Notably, EB-1C, catering to multinational managers, experienced a slowdown during COVID-19, with fewer managers arriving in the US and seeking EB-1C sponsorship. Yet, as global travel resumed in 2022, more managers were dispatched to the US by companies, prompting a surge in EB-1C visa petitions for FY 2023.

Aswini Thota, an AI and data analytics expert at Bose Corporation, while speaking to Times of India notes this shift, indicating an increased inclination of managers to pursue EB-1C petitions after successfully navigating pandemic challenges. “One of my primary motivations for exploring the EB-2 NIW and EB-1A visas was the opportunity they offer for professional flexibility. While many visa