US authorities soften their stand on L-1, H-1B visas

The US authorities have softened their stand on L-1, H-1B visas after India announced that it is planning to take up the issue with the World Trade Organisation. India has been raising the issue of an indiscriminatory increase in the fee charged to Indian software companies for attaining these visas. The US has assured that it continues to fully support the admission of qualified Indians into the United States.

State department spokesperson Victoria Nuland has given the assurance that the US is keen to allow qualified Indians to enter its country and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had a thorough discussion on the issue with India. 'We understand that the demand is even greater. We are working through those issues. But we continue to fully support the admission of qualified Indians under these programmes,' Nuland said.

Under its Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010, US sharply hiked the fee for H-1B and L-1 visas used by Indian and American companies to bring qualified professionals from abroad and for intra-company transfers respectively. In response Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M Scindia told parliament that India would propose to seek consultations with the US under the Dispute Settlement Understanding of the WTO.

Clinton, on her recent visit to India, has stated that Indians are the greatest beneficiaries in the world of both our L-1 visa programme and our H-1B visa programme.