Border security bill discriminatory: India to US

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Aug 20 (PTI) The provisions of the border
security bill, which allows massive increase in the fees on on
categories of H-1B and L1 visas, is discriminatory against the
Indian companies, India has said and asked the United States
to amend it.

Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar had lodged
an official protest to the US Trade Representative Ambassador
Ron Kirk in a letter dated August 9, about five days before
Obama signed the border security bill into law ignoring
India's concerns.
The letter, a copy of which is in possession with the
PTI, has been sent this week to the US Congress informing the
lawmakers the views of Indian Government on the issue.
The US President Barack Obama, last week, had signed
the bill into the law.
"We feel that the 'pay for' provisions of the Bill are
not in keeping with the substantive cooperative agenda which
the two governments are pursuing. We would ask that those
provisions of the Bill that discriminate against companies of
Indian origin may be suitably amended to create a level
playing field for all companies," Shankar said.
The 'pay for' provisions of the Bill, Shankar said,
stipulate that the amount for the security of US-Mexico border
would be provided through higher fees on H1B and L visas from
those applicants who employ 50 and more people and 50 per cent
of whom are non-immigrants in H-1B or L visa categories.
"Even though the Bill doesn't mention Indian companies
specifically, the manner in which it is currently worded
appears to be aimed at Information Technology companies from
India, creating an unequal playing field," Shankar said.
"The impact on Indian companies of the higher fee
increases would be substantial. While we appreciate and
understand the US desire to strengthen Border Security, we
have concerns about the proposed funding mechanism," the
Indian Ambassador said days ahead of the bill being signed.
However, the Obama Administration decided to ignore
the concerns of India on this issue.
Noting that India and the US have a Strategic
partnership and the trade and economic engagement is deepening
and widening, she said Indo-US overall trade in goods and
services is balanced.
"Indian leadership is looking forward to a successful
visit of the US President later this year. Indian Industry has
played a constructive role in the US economy. Several Indian
companies have invested billions of dollars in the US economy
and have created thousands of jobs in the US. Bilateral trade
creation, especially in high technology trade, including in
Civil Aviation and Defense, is responsible for further job
creation in the US economy," Shankar said.
There was no immediate response from the office of US
Trade Representatives. PTI LKJ
MRD