An Indian worker on the H-1B visa shared on Reddit the hardship of waiting more than 12 years for a US Green Card despite already having I-140 approval. The priority date for his Green Card is still frozen due to long backlogs, leaving him stuck. "My daughter asked about summer vacation today. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I’m still terrified to book a flight because of stamping risks. That’s the majboori of this life—missing years of Diwalis and weddings back home just to keep this 'golden cage' job," he wrote. He also added, "12 years. 3 presidents. Countless 'recession' scares. But my priority date? Still frozen in ice." He asked if others felt they had "put their real life on hold until a PD moves." Other Reddit users said they waited 15 to 18 years for their Green Cards. I-140 approval means US Citizenship and Immigration Services have accepted an employer's petition to classify a foreign worker for permanent residence. It locks in the person's priority date and allows H-1B extensions beyond six years, even with job changes. However, Indians face long waits because US law caps employment green cards at about 140,000 yearly, with no more than 7% per country. Since India sends many high-skilled workers, this creates a huge backlog. Despite I-140 approval, a person’s H-1B visa can still be revoked for usual reasons. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has flagged this issue with the US government. The wait and visa risks force many Indian workers to put their tours home and family events on hold for years.