'Took me 8 years to get a Green Card': Indian-origin investor's immigration journey draws flak

An Indian-origin investor shared his Green Card journey but got slammed on social media as he was taking sides of those who wait decades for permanent residency in the US, yet do not get it. The post from Arnav Sahu, a Silicon Valley investor, came in the context of the US administration’s new Green Card rule that many applicants will have to leave the US and go back to their home country to apply their Green Card as Adjustment of Status in which an applicant could change their non-immigrant visa to Green Card will only be allowed in cases the administration deem fit — and not to all cases.Sahu said it took him eight years to get a Green Card and that was faster as he applied through a special petition via EB-1. EB-1 is meant for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, researchers, managers or executives. Not everyone can qualify for this and hence the wait for this is shorter. “I know of people who’ve been in the country for 25 years, have kids and still don’t have a green card,” Sahu wrote.Sahu was replying to Canadian engineer Trevel Blackwell’s observation on the new rule. “People may not know that the processing time for green card applications are months to years. So someone could come on a O-1 or H-1B, work for 5 years, become critical in their role, apply, and then have to abandon their job. Incredibly harmful to US industry,” Blackwell said.Sahu’s eight-year wait story, however, did not go down well with social media users as they questioned why foreigners feel so entitled to get a Green Card in the US. They also pointed out that the backlog started as the system allowed many people to get a Green Card. “Which is proof too many have been let in. If it were the appropriate amount, the envisioned system could handle the flow,” one wrote.“Why do Indians expect special treatment? I’m an immigrant also and we took much longer to get citizenship. You’re coming on a temporary visa. Temporary. No one owes you a green card because you keep extending the temporary status you have,” another wrote.Reacting to the situation that Sahu presented, where people living in the US for 25 years with their family, kids and still on a temporary visa, social media users asked why such people do not leave the US. “Why are they having children on a TEMPORARY visa?” one asked.“It took me 12. That’s the process. So what’s your point? It is not supposed to be a fee for all. US, just like India, Australia, Canada, etc., has the right to be selective,” another asked.