Pay Rs 17.5 lakh for fast-tracking process of US Green Cards

The Donald Trump government has decided to fast-track processing of US Green Cards, which have been pending for more than a decade, by accepting a fee.

In a fresh move, the US lawmakers are considering a sweeping immigration reform bill that would provide relief to millions of people stuck in green card queues for years.

As part of it, the bipartisan proposal, The Dignity Act of 2025, has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. It aims to raise the number of green cards issued each year, overhaul immigration rules, and reduce the massive visa backlog, which has reach 11.3 million figure by the second quarter of FY2025.

The legislation, introduced on July 15, aims to cap visa wait times at 10 years. Applications with employment or family-based immigration pending for more than a decade could pay a fee of $20,000 (Rs 17.5 lakh) for accelerated processing. The bill also proposes to raise the per-country cap for green cards from the current 7% to 15% of the annual total for both employment and family-based categories.

The Dignity Act of 2025 is a revised version of the Dignity Act of 2023, and includes establishing a new Immigration Agency Coordinator office to streamline work between the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labour. Over $3.6 billion has been allocated to reduce processing backlogs.

The reforms in the Act would benefit undocumented immigrants brought to the US as minors — known as Dreamer — apart from skilled workers who have been waiting for years due to
per-country limits. Individuals with criminal records would be ineligible.

The Dignity Act is believed to be a revolutionary bill that offers the solution to immigration crisis, secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and provide an earned opportunity for long-term immigrants to stay here and work. At a time when the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is grappling with a surge in applications, the bill provides a big relief to the authorities and applicants.

The bill also seeks to modernize employment-based visa rules. Family members have been excluded from visa caps. The children and spouses would no longer count toward annual visa quotas, which means only the principal applicant is counted. This provision could lead to a significant rise in the number of high-skilled visas available each year without raising the cap.

F-1 visa holders, mainly international students, would be allowed to pursue work opportunities in the US without having to prove an intention to return home after studies. Those in the Optional Practical Training program would need to contribute to federal benefit programs.

The new Act would also help international students earning doctorates in science, technology, engineering, math, or medicine (STEM) would be presumed eligible for O visas. At the same time, individuals with extraordinary ability would also be secured, to help retain top talent.

Once approved and passed, the Dignity Act of 2025 could mark one of the most significant US immigration overhauls in decades, offering a faster path to stability for long-term immigrants. It also would provide more strict border control.