Some foreign-born Delaware physicians fear they will never obtain a green card in their lifetimes due to current immigration quotas and a growing backlog.

According to one estimate, some Indian immigrants who submit their paperwork today will likely have to wait more than 50 years.

READ THE FULL STORY:These doctors immigrated legally. They still fear they'll be sent home over visa denials

U.S. law limits the total number of green cards a single nationality can receive to 7 percent of all green cards.

This means large countries like India and China receive the same number of green cards as small countries like Monaco and Barbados. And these quotas haven't changed since they went into effect in 1991.

Under the Trump administration, physicians and immigration lawyers said the process to renew three-year temporary visas has become more difficult. Doctors are concerned that these visas could be rejected, requiring them to return to their home countries.

This comes at a time when states, including Delaware, are facing a primary care physician shortage that's only expected to get worse. Many foreign-born physicians practice in primary care and in medically underserved areas, a requirement for some work visas.

It is why doctors throughout the country are advocating for legislation that would extend the number of visas given to foreign-born doctors. The bill would also fast-track their path to becoming a permanent resident.

Health officials say foreign-born doctors are essential to Delaware, where about 238,000 people live in a primary care health professional shortage area.

These doctors, they say, will practice in areas others will not.

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Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @merenewman.