Without Congressional action, the current wait for an employment-based green card can be 5 to 20 years or more, depending on the country of origin.

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He said he would recommend that anyone leaving government employment should wait for at least two years before being able to join a lobbying firm.

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Moreover, reform is needed for green cards (permanent residence), since newly sponsored skilled foreign nationals, particularly from India and China, could wait years or decades for an employment-based green card.

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The employment numbers we wait for on the first Friday of most months are net changes.

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To help patients, Congress should expand the number of employment-based green cards so the wait times for skilled immigrants, including nurses, physicians, and physical therapists, can be measured in weeks or months, rather than years or decades.

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The employment ministry has called on patients "to not go to hospital for things that can wait for tomorrow".

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