Indians can expect more H1b-visas
Posted on October 19, 2009
Filed Under News |
One of the important agenda of the bilateral trade forum meeting, to be held at Delhi, could be the increment in the number of H1-B visas for Indians. The meeting is to be chaired by Indian commerce minister Anand Sharma and the US trade representative Ron Kirk and will be focusing on more simple and liberal US visa regime for working professionals.
H1-B visas are non-immigrant visas given for up to six years to skilled professionals. Most of such type of visas are cornered by IT giants like Satyam, Infosys, Wipro TCS etc. as their subsidiary companies in the US employ Indians for working on-site.
The number of world-wide H-1B visas issued to professionals was reduced by more than half to 65,000 per year about two years back. This has affected the functioning of Indian companies in the US, especially ones in the IT sector,” an official said.
An interesting point to consider here is that, though there is going to be a demand for more visas and also a special mechanism for Indians traveling to the US; this years quota of 65000 H1-B visas was not fully utilized. however, the officials blame it on the recession and call it a “temporary” and “soon to get over” phase.
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5 Responses to “Indians can expect more H1b-visas”
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A discussion about increasing H1B would be an untimely discussion. It’s worse than discussing a possibility of appointing a maid for cleaning 2 years in advance.
Thank you.
I am not discussing whether there should be an increment or not. i am just giving the info that there might be a probable chance that at the Bilateral Trade Forum meeting, this issue can be raised.
For details, you can visit: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/India-to-ask-US-for-more-H-1B-visas/articleshow/5137427.cms
The H-1b visa will likely have strict rules due to rampant abuse by Indians.
Of course the norms should be as such to prevent misuse and frauds but simultaneously, it should not prove to be against the principle of free trade and create trade barriers. The United states can not neglect the whopping 60% of its total revenue, being drawn from the US by almost $50 billion Indian IT outsourcing industry. Most of the highly skilled IT professionals from software biggies work on site on H1B visa.
In the words of The Heritage Foundation analysts Jena Baker McNeill and Diem Nguyen, “Raising the cap for H-1B visas will not steal American jobs but will help promote economic growth and generate much needed tax revenue.” They also commented that There is a popular myth that H-1B workers displace Americans because foreigners will work for less than Americans even if they have greater qualifications. A curtailment or denial would only ensure the US being deprived of the best global talent which comes in the form of highly trained and talented people.
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