NEW DELHI:India has asked the US government to clear the uncertainties related to H1-B visa and bring transparency for ease of doing business. The issue on visa has been taken up with the group of Congressmen visiting India. During the recent discussion with the Congressmen, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has sought certainty in the US visa regime as a critical issue for the businesses to flourish between the two countries and the need for a stable business environment.
The US delegation was led by Bob Goodlatte, chairman, Judiciary committee, House of Representatives.
“We have discussed in detail as to what the uncertainties are all about...business always flourishes in an environment of certainty and transparency. So even this visa related issue is an issue on which we would want to have an air of certainty and also transparency,” Sitharaman told reporters here on Tuesday.
She added that the Congressmen have acknowledged India’s concerns and indicated that they are waiting for the new administration to understand and respond to such concerns.
Recently, a US legislation (Lofgren Bill) has been introduced, which proposes doubling of the minimum wages of H-1B visa holders to $130,000. The current H-1B minimum wage of $60,000 was fixed in 1989 and has since remained unchanged.
The proposed overhaul of popular H-1B visa regime by US President Donald Trump has raised concerns among Indian IT firms, as any changes in the visa regime may result in higher operational costs and shortage of skilled workers for the $110-billion Indian outsourcing industry.