Delays in the US green card process are beginning to impact leadership positions across sectors, with executives forced to step down as their work permits expire. As the backlog for permanent residency grows, even senior professionals who have lived and worked legally in the country for years are unable to continue in their roles without proper documentation.
Collie Greenwood, CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), stepped down on July 17 after his US work permit expired and delays in receiving a green card left him unable to continue in his role. Greenwood, a Canadian national, took early retirement even as his green card delivery remains “imminent,” the agency confirmed on Thursday.
Greenwood, who was named MARTA’s CEO in January 2022, is credited with stabilising the agency’s finances. However, in recent months, the transit authority faced challenges in delivering on key expansion and improvement projects. His departure adds to a wave of high-profile resignations in the US transit sector in recent months, many linked to operational challenges and tightening immigration timelines.
Greenwood took early retirement following the expiration of his Employment Authorization Document ( EAD) on June 18, 2025. MARTA confirmed on Thursday that Greenwood remains in the US legally, with a valid Canadian visa, and is awaiting the “imminent” delivery of his green card.
In a formal process, Greenwood stopped working immediately after his permit expired, personally notified all MARTA board members and executive leaders, and signed a delegation of authority to Rhonda Allen, MARTA’s Chief Customer Experience Officer.
“The immigration process is extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood’s personal and professional progress. These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood’s decision, and the MARTA family supports him,” the agency said in a statement.
Green card backlog disrupting careers
The US green card system has long been burdened by slow processing and country-wise caps, but backlogs have worsened over the past decade. Changes during the Trump administration introduced new scrutiny and vetting delays for employment-based visas and green card applications. Many skilled professionals have been forced to wait years for permanent residency, despite living and working legally in the country.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), even high-level professionals with approved petitions can face long delays before they are granted green cards, especially if they are from countries with high demand such as India, China, or Mexico. In some categories, the wait can stretch over a decade.
Immigration case backlog at new high
In the January–March quarter of FY2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported a steep decline in case completions and a sharp increase in pending cases, marking a major shift in operational performance under the new administration.
USCIS completed 2.7 million cases during the second quarter, an 18% fall from the 3.3 million completions recorded in the same period last year. Compared to the previous quarter (Q1 FY2025), completions dropped 12%. At the same time, pending cases surged by 1.6 million, bringing the total backlog to a record 11.3 million cases—crossing the 10 million mark for the first time in over a decade.
The agency also recorded more than 34,000 unopened cases at the end of the quarter. This marks the first time since Q2 FY2024 that the "frontlog"—cases not yet entered into the system—has been non-zero.
This update was published in USCIS’s first major statistical release since the new US administration assumed office.
Collie Greenwood, CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), stepped down on July 17 after his US work permit expired and delays in receiving a green card left him unable to continue in his role. Greenwood, a Canadian national, took early retirement even as his green card delivery remains “imminent,” the agency confirmed on Thursday.
Greenwood, who was named MARTA’s CEO in January 2022, is credited with stabilising the agency’s finances. However, in recent months, the transit authority faced challenges in delivering on key expansion and improvement projects. His departure adds to a wave of high-profile resignations in the US transit sector in recent months, many linked to operational challenges and tightening immigration timelines.
Greenwood took early retirement following the expiration of his Employment Authorization Document ( EAD) on June 18, 2025. MARTA confirmed on Thursday that Greenwood remains in the US legally, with a valid Canadian visa, and is awaiting the “imminent” delivery of his green card.
In a formal process, Greenwood stopped working immediately after his permit expired, personally notified all MARTA board members and executive leaders, and signed a delegation of authority to Rhonda Allen, MARTA’s Chief Customer Experience Officer.
“The immigration process is extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood’s personal and professional progress. These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood’s decision, and the MARTA family supports him,” the agency said in a statement.
Green card backlog disrupting careers
The US green card system has long been burdened by slow processing and country-wise caps, but backlogs have worsened over the past decade. Changes during the Trump administration introduced new scrutiny and vetting delays for employment-based visas and green card applications. Many skilled professionals have been forced to wait years for permanent residency, despite living and working legally in the country.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), even high-level professionals with approved petitions can face long delays before they are granted green cards, especially if they are from countries with high demand such as India, China, or Mexico. In some categories, the wait can stretch over a decade.
Immigration case backlog at new high
In the January–March quarter of FY2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported a steep decline in case completions and a sharp increase in pending cases, marking a major shift in operational performance under the new administration.
USCIS completed 2.7 million cases during the second quarter, an 18% fall from the 3.3 million completions recorded in the same period last year. Compared to the previous quarter (Q1 FY2025), completions dropped 12%. At the same time, pending cases surged by 1.6 million, bringing the total backlog to a record 11.3 million cases—crossing the 10 million mark for the first time in over a decade.
The agency also recorded more than 34,000 unopened cases at the end of the quarter. This marks the first time since Q2 FY2024 that the "frontlog"—cases not yet entered into the system—has been non-zero.
This update was published in USCIS’s first major statistical release since the new US administration assumed office.
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