India, Sept. 1 -- An Indian professional who applies for a US green card today could face a wait of up to 179 years in some categories, according to a new analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Nearly one million Indians are already stuck in the employment-based backlog, making up 79% of everyone waiting in line. Nationality-based green card caps disproportionately impact Indian professionals, NFAP's analysis finds, with professionals from China and the Philippines generally facing shorter wait times.

At present, Indian professionals can apply for an employment-based green card through three different categories. EB-1 - the first preference - is granted to individuals with extraordinary abilities in the sciences,...