In a collective effort to address the gaps in the current immigration system and its gripping effects on the country’s economic development, a group of US legislators spearheaded by Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Larry Bucshon, sent a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In their letter, the lawmakers urged the authorities to mark all dates for the filing of employment-based visa applications in the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ published Employment-Based Visa Bulletin as “current.” According to the group doing so would provide relief to thousands of individuals attempting to legally navigate the prevailing immigration system.

The lawmakers argued that making the dates current could potentially make some applicants eligible for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to change jobs, start businesses, and travel abroad to visit family without penalty.

“Without this administrative action, which was also used during the administration of President George W. Bush, individuals are left in a constant state of limbo and, in some cases, are punished for utilizing a pathway of legal immigration by being forced to stay with one company or organization due to their green card status,” their letter read in part.

The letter also emphasized the benefit of retaining of highly skilled workers, predominantly advanced degree holders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for the country’s economic and global progress. “These talented individuals are eager to live and work in the U.S., but the current immigration system is broken, making it nearly impossible for them to stay,” the letter added.

Raising concern on Canada’s recent move to facilitate the smooth immigration of skilled professionals,the lawmakers underlined, “Given decades-long backlogs and increased recruitment by Canada of foreign STEM talent, the number of individuals who remain committed to waiting for an employment-based green card is unclear.As a result, we encourage the administration to make all employment-based visas current on the Visa Bulletin on October 1, 2023.”

Indian American Congressman Krishnamoorthi said bureaucratic delays in the US legal immigration system are holding back the economy leaving so many families in limbo. “By using its authority under the existing law, the Administration can ease this burden while strengthening the economy and helping to create jobs," he emphasized.