Indian H-1B Professionals Eye UK as Green Card Delays Stretch to 14 Years

As uncertainty continues to surround the future of the US H-1B visa program, a growing number of Indian professionals are exploring the United Kingdom's Global Talent Visa as an alternative—without giving up on their long-term plans to settle in the United States.According to Yash Dubal, an Indian-origin immigration lawyer and CEO of London-based A Y & J Solicitors, his firm has seen a noticeable increase in inquiries from Indian engineers, researchers, and other highly skilled workers currently living in the US on H-1B visas.The shift, he says, is being driven by lengthy employment-based green card backlogs and continued uncertainty surrounding the US immigration system.'Fourteen-Year Wait'Speaking to The American Bazaar, Dubal said many of his clients

are professionals in their 30s who have established lives in the United States with spouses on H-4 visas and children born in America.However, obtaining permanent residency remains a major hurdle."The April 2026 Visa Bulletin set the EB-2 India date at July 2014, which means a fourteen-year wait for a green card. The UK Global Talent Visa gets you to settlement in three," Dubal said.The significant difference in waiting times is prompting many skilled workers to consider Britain as a backup option.Why the UK Global Talent Visa Is AttractiveIntroduced in 2020 as part of the UK's post-Brexit immigration system, the Global Talent Visa is aimed at professionals in fields including:

• Digital technology
• Engineering
• Scientific research
• Academia
• Medicine
• Arts and culture

Unlike the UK's Skilled Worker Visa, the Global Talent Visa does not require employer sponsorship, a job offer, or a minimum salary threshold.Successful applicants can switch employers freely, become self-employed, launch businesses, or work as consultants.Applicants must first receive an endorsement from an approved UK body before applying for the visa.A 'Hedge,' Not a ReplacementDubal emphasized that most Indian H-1B holders are not abandoning their American ambitions.Instead, many families are creating a parallel immigration pathway to reduce uncertainty."Indian H-1B holders are not abandoning the US plan. They are putting a UK plan alongside it, as a hedge," he told The American Bazaar.He added that many professionals underestimate their eligibility for the Global Talent Visa, particularly engineers and researchers whose achievements often already meet endorsement criteria.Political Uncertainty Driving DecisionsBeyond the green card backlog, continuing political debates over the future of the H-1B visa program have also contributed to growing interest in alternative destinations.According to Dubal, many highly skilled immigrants no longer view immigration uncertainty in the US as a short-term issue and are proactively exploring additional options while continuing their careers in America.For many Indian professionals, the strategy is no longer about choosing between the US and the UK—but ensuring their families have multiple pathways to long-term stability if America's immigration system remains gridlocked.