Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

14-December-2016 15:16 IST

Government of India has taken up the visa as well as social security issues with the United States (US) both bilaterally and in other forums from time to time to address the concerns arising out of the impact of such measures on the domestic industry particularly the Indian Information Technology (IT) industry.

Visa related issues of IT industry have been raised with the US Government at the Ministerial dialogues during the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in August 2016 and the Trade Policy Forum in October 2016. Also, the matter on US visa fee hike has been raised by India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva. India had consultations with the United States on 11-12 May 2016 at the WTO, Geneva under WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism. India had raised claims on US measures relating to:

i. Fees for L-1 and H-1B visas;

ii. Numerical commitment for H-1B visas.

India is also pursuing for bilateral Totalization Agreement with the US. In the Trade Policy Forum held in October,2016, both the countries acknowledged the ongoing discussions on totalisation and resolved to continue their engagement on the elements required in both countries in order to pursue a bilateral Totalisation Agreement.

During the Trade Policy Forum held in October, 2106, India and the US decided to continue their engagement on visa issues and reiterated their resolve to facilitate the movement of professionals. India would continue the efforts with the new Government of the US under the leadership of their new President Mr. Donald Trump also.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

 

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MJPS

Temporary work visas: diplomatic and multilateral engagement to challenge visa fees and pursue social security coordination for IT professionals. India has pursued diplomatic and multilateral challenges to US measures affecting temporary work visas, including fee increases and numerical commitments for H 1B and L 1 categories, and is concurrently negotiating a bilateral Totalization Agreement to address social security coordination for mobile IT professionals while continuing engagement in trade and strategic dialogues to facilitate movement of professionals.