A new immigration proposal in the United States could bring hope to millions of long-term immigrants, including thousands of Indian professionals who have spent years waiting for permanent residency.
California Senator Alex Padilla has renewed efforts to pass the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Bill, a legislation he first introduced in 2025. If approved by Congress, the Bill would create a new pathway for many immigrants who have lived continuously in the United States for at least seven years to apply for lawful permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card.
The proposal aims to modernise an immigration law that has remained largely unchanged for decades and provide greater certainty to immigrants who have built their lives, careers and families in the US.
What the Bill Proposes
At the heart of the proposal is an amendment to Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Registry provision.
This provision was originally introduced in 1929 to allow certain long-term residents to legalise their immigration status. However, the law was last updated in 1986 during the administration of former President Ronald Reagan.
Under the current law, only immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1972, are eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Registry process. Because this cut-off date has not changed for nearly four decades, the provision has become outdated and is no longer useful for most immigrants living in the country today.
Senator Padilla’s Bill seeks to replace this fixed date with a rolling seven-year residency requirement. Instead of Congress having to update the law every few decades, anyone who has continuously lived in the United States for at least seven years could become eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency under the Registry provision, provided they meet other legal requirements.
Padilla said the proposal is designed to modernise America’s immigration system and provide stability to people who have lived, worked and contributed to the country for many years.
Why the Current Law Is Considered Outdated
According to Senator Padilla’s office, the existing Registry provision has become almost ineffective because the eligibility date has remained frozen since 1972.
Official figures show that only 305 people were able to adjust their immigration status through this provision between 2015 and 2019, highlighting how limited its impact has become.
Supporters of the Bill argue that replacing the old cut-off date with a rolling eligibility period would make the law relevant again and allow deserving long-term residents to benefit without requiring Congress to repeatedly amend the legislation.
Major Relief for Indian H-1B Visa Holders
One of the groups expected to benefit the most from the proposed legislation is Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas.
Thousands of highly skilled Indian workers are currently employed in sectors such as information technology, engineering, healthcare and research. Although many of them have lived legally in the US for years and have employers sponsoring them for permanent residency, they continue to face extremely long waiting periods because of the country’s employment-based Green Card system.
A major reason for these delays is the 7 per cent per-country limit on employment-based Green Cards. Since demand from India is much higher than the annual allocation, applicants often remain stuck in the backlog for many years.
According to available estimates, India accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the employment-based Green Card backlog. Many Indian applicants face waiting periods of 15 years or even several decades, despite meeting all legal requirements and continuously living and working in the United States.
If the proposed Bill becomes law, many of these long-term residents could become eligible to apply for permanent residency through the revised Registry provision instead of waiting indefinitely in existing Green Card queues.
Other Immigrant Groups That Could Benefit
The proposed legislation is not limited to H-1B visa holders alone.
It could also provide a pathway to permanent residency for several other categories of immigrants who have lived in the United States for an extended period. These include:
Dreamers, who were brought to the US as children.
Individuals protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Children of long-term visa holders, many of whom face uncertainty as they grow older.
Essential workers who have contributed to the country’s economy and communities while meeting the continuous residency requirement.
Supporters say the Bill recognises the contributions made by these individuals and offers them an opportunity to secure their future in the United States.
Strong Support from Democratic Leaders
The proposal has received significant backing from Democratic lawmakers.
The legislation is co-led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and supported by several prominent senators, including Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Adam Schiff, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
In addition to political support, more than 30 organisations have endorsed the Bill, reflecting broad support from immigration advocacy groups and community organisations.
Long Road Before It Becomes Law
Although the Bill has been reintroduced with strong Democratic support, it has not yet become law.
Before it can take effect, the proposal must be approved by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. After passing both chambers of Congress, it would also require presidential approval before becoming law.
This means the legislation still faces several legislative steps and political challenges before any changes to US immigration policy can be implemented.
A Proposal That Could Reshape US Immigration
If passed, Senator Alex Padilla’s Bill could represent one of the most significant changes to the US immigration system in decades. By replacing an outdated eligibility rule with a rolling seven-year residency requirement, the proposal aims to provide a practical pathway to permanent residency for millions of long-term immigrants.
For Indian H-1B professionals, who have endured some of the world’s longest Green Card waiting times, the Bill offers renewed hope of obtaining permanent residency without spending decades in the backlog.
While the legislation’s future will depend on congressional approval, its reintroduction has once again brought immigration reform into the national spotlight and renewed hopes for thousands of families seeking stability and a permanent future in the United States.
Also Read: Why Weren’t Pakistani Migrants Deported From Gujarat? HC Questions Authorities https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-high-court-pakistani-hindus-citizenship-delay/
