Trying best to address India`s concerns on visa fee hike: US

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Aug 19 (PTI) The US is in touch with India
to address its concerns over the hike in H1-B and L1 visa fee,
which would adversely affect Indian IT companies, a senior
administration official has said.
"We are in touch with the Indian Government and are
trying as best as we can to answer the questions they have
about this new law," the official, familiar with the ongoing
Indo-US talks on this issue, told PTI.
The official said there is no secret that the Indian
government has expressed its concern about this new provision
but Washington is not aware of India approaching the WTO on
the issue.
"We are not aware that India has taken any action on
the WTO front, but if and when they do that will be a question
posed to US Trade Representative," the official said,
responding to statements coming out from Indian officials that
New Delhi might approach the World Trade Organisation.
However, there was no response from the USTR.
The Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand
Sharma, had last week also written a letter to the US Trade
Representative, Ron Kirk, in this regard.
Under the USD 600 border security bill signed into law
by President Barack Obama, nearly USD 550 million would be
raised by increasing the fee in the categories of H-1B and L1
visas for the next five years, which would mostly impact
Indian IT companies.
Businesses in India and the US have termed this as
discriminatory and said this would undermine the growing
Indo-US economic relationship, with which the Obama
Administration does not agree.
Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, said
last week that increase in the visa fee makes sense, but
there is nothing in the bill that would have any adverse
impact on the US-India relationship.
Indo-US ties, she said, is robust and strong,
Napolitano said.
However, officials, privately do concede that the visa
row has brought some sort of strain at least in the economic
ties, which have been robust under the Obama Administration.
State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said the
move could have an adverse impact on Indian companies but
exuded confidence that the long-term economic partnership with
India would continue to deepen and strengthen.
"We understand the Government of India's concerns. We
realise it could impact Indian companies that invest in the
US and we also understand the potential impact on Indians who
work in the US as well as some American businesses," Toner
said. PTI