How Indians Can Pursue a US Green Card: H-1B, L-1, OPT & More During Trump’s Second Term

As Donald Trump and the Republican Party prepare to return to the White House in 2025, immigrants, particularly from India, are growing increasingly concerned about the future of H-1B visas and the US green card process. Ahead of the 2024 elections, Trump has proposed a series of measures aimed at restricting immigration, including reducing the number of H-1B visas and tightening the eligibility criteria.

One of Trump’s major proposals is to end birthright citizenship for children born to immigrant parents, a policy that has been in place for decades.

During his first term (2016-2020), Trump’s administration already made significant cuts to H-1B visa availability, leading to a sharp rise in denial rates—from 4% to 17%—and a similar increase in L-1 visa denials, which jumped from 12% to 28%. These visa restrictions have had a direct impact on the Indian workforce, which is heavily reliant on these pathways to work in the US and eventually obtain a green card.

Popular Visa Options for Green Card Seekers
L-1 visas: These non-immigrant visas allow US companies to transfer employees from foreign offices to work temporarily in the US. L-1 visas are valid for 3 to 5 years and can be extended up to a maximum of 7 years.