H-1B Visa Policy: India Seeks Non-Discriminatory H-1B Visa Regime

The changes made in the H-1B visa policy by the Donald Trump-led administration has affected a lot of people living in the country including a large number of Indians. Taking note of the issue, India has asked the United States to take a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H-1B visa regime, as it could affect the people-to-people links.

“I sought Secretary Pompeo’s support to nurture our people-to-people links,” said India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while addressing the media after participating in the first ever 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue last week.

The first ever 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue was also attended by Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

“Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H-1B visa regime, given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness and people-to-people partnership, all of which are a vital source of strength for our relationship,” Swaraj said.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said that she has already mentioned Pompeo that in view of the friendship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indians feel the US will not do anything against their interests.

“I have mentioned to him (Pompeo) to maintain the trust of Indians,” she said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that is used by US companies to employ workers from foreign countries in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

The Trump administration has made a number of changes in its H1B visa policy claiming that some IT companies have been misusing H1B visa to hire foreign workers at the cost of American workers. The changes include reductions in the number of H1B visas issued, increasing the premium processing fee and extending the suspension of premium processing of these visas.