Not much change in H1B: Govt

New Delhi, March 20

The United States had conveyed to India that there was no significant change in H1B visa regime, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Lok Sabha today.

Replying to questions from MPs over reported job losses to Indians after the Donald Trump regime-enforced change in visa rules, Sitharaman said the government was in constant touch at several levels with the US administration. She said even she had raised the issue recently with visiting Congressional delegation led by Bob Goodlatte, and so did commerce and foreign secretaries during their visit to the US in March-first week. 

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The Minister said India’s concerns on visa issues were articulated during the ‘Strategic and Commerce Dialogue 2016’ and ‘Trade Policy Forum 2016’ held in October last. She said India had decided to continue their engagement on visa issues and reiterated their shared resolve to facilitate the movement of professionals.

Sitharaman said a number of industry bodies had raised concerns on US visa policies and these concerns were conveyed to the US authorities by the government.

The minister said the US monitored the policies of 73 countries and India may be one of them. — TNS