Sushma Swaraj takes up H-1B issue with US again

New Delhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj once again raised India’s concerns on the H-1B visa with a visiting US congressional delegation from the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and sought bipartisan congressional support for India’s position on the issue.

The MEA tweeted, “EAM @SushmaSwaraj with 9-member US Congressional Delegation from the House Committee on Science, Space &Tech led by its Chairman Lamar Smith. EAM @SushmaSwaraj  flagged the issue of H1B visa as a strong concern and sought bipartisan Congressional support for the same(sic).”

Last month, Ms Swaraj had met her American counterpart, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in New York and had then too “strongly raised” the H-1B visa issue. India’s position is that “Indian software exports and personnel add to the competitiveness of US industry”.

It may be recalled that a legislation had earlier been introduced in the US House of Representatives which calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders from USD60,000 to USD130,000, which would make it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers.

India fears the arbitrary overhauling of work visa programmes like the H1B and L1 will adversely hit the lifeline of Indian tech firms and professionals in the US. Nearly two-thirds of H-1B visa applicants are Indian nationals.