17 years in US and still no permanent residence of any sort?! That's why I'd never consider moving to US! If I chose a country to live in and they let me in I want to have a possibility of either becoming a citizen or at least have permanent residency (actually permanent; often permanent just means long-term).
Discussed elsewhere in this thread, but it depends on where you are from b/c there is a per-country quota. There are many applicants for a Green Card from India so it's hard if you are Indian. But if you are from e.g. Singapore there are far fewer applicants competing with you so it's easier.
Is Green Card that hard to get?