Daibai, a 99-year-old Indian citizen, took the Oath of Allegiance at our Orlando office, demonstrating that age is just a number. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an official notice awarding her US citizenship.
USCIS posted on X (formerly Twitter), “They say age is just a number. That seems true for this lively 99-year-old who became a #NewUSCitizen in our Orlando office. Daibai is from India and was full of vigor and excited to take the Oath of Allegiance. She’s pictured with her daughter and our officer who swore her in. Congratulations to this young in spirit new American!”
The American Dream is a global symbol of hope, opportunity, and a better future for millions of individuals worldwide. Many hopeful immigrants face the daunting reality of an endless wait for a Green Card or the Permanent Resident Card, a document issued to US immigrants indicating their permanent residence in America and US citizenship.
Congress sets global annual limits for family-sponsored preference Green Cards at 226,000, employment-based Green Cards at 140,000, and a per-country limit further complicates the situation.
The Permanent Resident Card that grants permission for permanent residency in the United States remains elusive for many foreigners as the waiting time for acquiring a green card is several years in many cases. The long wait time is due to the country-based quota system in US immigration law, which limits Green Card issuance and it is Congress only that can change these quotas.
In March, at an immigration summit, prominent lawmakers from both Democratic and Republican parties urged for urgent action to address the Green Card backlog. Without a change, Indian immigrants’ Green Card waiting periods could exceed 20 years and sometimes over 70 years.