H-1B Visa Holders Eye UK as Green Card Delays Persist

A rising number of foreign professionals in the United States on H-1B visas are applying for the United Kingdom’s Global Talent Visa, seeking a faster and more reliable path to permanent residency.

The H-1B programme, a key part of America’s skilled migration system, is employer-dependent, capped at 85,000 places annually, and allocated through a lottery. Even successful applicants face long waits for permanent residency. 

The April 2026 US Visa Bulletin lists the EB-2 India priority date as July 2014, indicating a wait of about 14 years. In contrast, the UK’s Global Talent Visa, introduced in 2020, has no cap, is based on professional achievements, and can lead to settlement in as little as three years.

Immigration lawyer Yash Dubal in London reports a sharp increase in enquiries from Indian engineers and technology specialists in their thirties. Many have lived in the US for years with spouses on H-4 visas and children born there, yet remain stuck in the Green Card backlog. Dubal notes that the UK route appeals because eligibility is tied directly to professional records, offering a clear timeline.

The UK application process involves two steps: endorsement by an approved body in fields such as digital technology, science, engineering, medicine, or the arts, followed by the visa application itself. Advisers highlight that many professionals underestimate their eligibility, as their achievements often meet the criteria.

Concerns about the future of the H-1B programme have added to the shift. Proposals such as a $100,000 visa fee, though contested, have raised uncertainty. Foreign professionals increasingly view unpredictability in the US system as a long-term issue rather than a temporary challenge.

Many applicants are not abandoning the US entirely but are pursuing both options at once, waiting for American residency while applying for the UK visa as a safeguard.