Why US H-1B holders are turning to UK amid visa uncertainty, Green Card delays

Summary

A growing number of professionals working in the US on H-1B work visa visas are exploring a move to the UK, due in large part to prolonged Green Card backlogs and uncertainty surrounding the US immigration system, pushing many to seek more predictable pathways to permanent residency. Introduced in 2020 as part of the UK's post-Brexit immigration framework, the Global Talent Visa is designed for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent or promise in fields such as digital technology, engineering, science, academia, medicine and the arts. According to immigration consultants cited by The American Bazaar, the UK Global Talent Visa offers several advantages over the H-1B visa. Unlike the H-1B, which is employer-sponsored, lottery-based, and subject to an annual cap of 85,000 visas, the Global Talent Visa is evidence-based and uncapped. Dubal noted that the April 2026 US Visa Bulletin lists the EB-2 (green card for advanced degree holders) India priority date as July 2014, effectively translating into a Green Card wait of around 14 years for many Indian applicants. "The UK Global Talent Visa gets you to settlement in three. Immigration advisers also pointed to increasing unease over the future of the H-1B programme. "Indian H-1B holders are not abandoning the US plan. To qualify for the Global Talent Visa, applicants must first obtain an endorsement from an approved UK body before submitting their visa application. Indian H-1B holders are not abandoning the US plan.