US Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact Indians

The immigration journey for Indians in the US and UK is undergoing significant changes. In the US, Indian employment-based green card applicants face extraordinary waiting periods, with EB-2 waits estimated at up to 179 years and EB-3 waits at around 38 years. At the same time, new USCIS guidance allows neighbourhood investigations during the naturalisation process, potentially involving neighbours, employers and others. Across the Atlantic, Indians remain the leading nationality across several UK immigration categories. They received the highest number of work visas, visitor visas, settlement grants and British citizenship grants in the year ending June 2026. However, overall UK work and study visa numbers have declined amid policy changes. The figures highlight the evolving immigration landscape for Indians, marked by long waits, greater scrutiny and shifting migration policies.