No drop in requests for H1B, L1 visas from India, says US

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23

The US today said there is no drop in the number of applications for the H1B visas from India which is among the leading countries to get almost 70 per cent of travel documents in the category.

The demand from Indian companies to lower the fees for applicants for the H1B and L1 visas, notwithstanding, visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Michele Bond said India received 1.1 lakh H1B visas during October 2014-September 2015.

“There is no drop in the number of applications and no lessening of interests (in applying for H1B and L1 visas),” Bond said in an interaction at the conclusion of India-US annual consular dialogue here.

Over the past two years, industry bodies like FICCI and NASSCOM have said the decision of the United States to double the fee for certain categories of H1B and L1 visas to $4000 and $4,500 respectively was discriminatory since it impacts IT firms of India.

These are temporary work visas for skilled professionals and during the previous financial year, ending September 14, 67.4% of the 1.61 lakh H1B visas went to Indians besides 28% of 71,500 L1 visas.

President Barack Obama had signed into law a $1.8 trillion tax and spending Bill, which authorised visa fee hike applicable to companies employing 50 or more persons. India had also moved the WTO on the issue.

The US, she said, was encouraging India to adopt the Hague Abduction Convention, a treaty that the US and many countries had joined. The purpose was to protect children from the harmful effects of international abduction by a parent by encouraging prompt return of abducted children to the country of their habitual residence, and to organize or secure effective rights of access to a child.