US panel mulls issuing work permits to certain green card applicants

A US presidential advisory commission has discussed the possibility of issuing work permits and travel documents to those who have been waiting for a green card for over 5 years under certain visa categories.

The recommendation comes at a time when highly skilled foreign-born workers face long waits for their immigrant visas to be processed during which they may lose out on job opportunities or be forced to leave the country because their prior non-immigrant visas have expired.

The committee noted that such a move would benefit the US by ensuring that the country can continue to attract and retain global talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and by improving the lives of many foreign-born scientists, engineers, and physicians.