Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
International

India Convey Concern Over H1B Visa To US

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Jan, 2017 12:04 PM
    India on Tuesday said it has conveyed its concern to the US over a bill being introduced in the Congress to change rules on H1B visas which is likely to impact the Indian IT industry and Indian techies working in the US.
     
    "India's interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US administration and the US Congress at senior levels," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
     
    The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, introduced in House of Representatives by California Congressman Zoe Lofgren, calls for doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000 from the current minimum wage of $60,000 - a move that could impact Indian techies.
     
    The bill, likely to be signed by President Donald Trump, would make it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India, with lower wages.
     
     
    As Trump was preparing to issue executive orders on H1B, the draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites on Monday.
     
    As per the leaked draft order, Trump would reverse his predecessor Barack Obama's extension of the duration of the optional practical training work visas, which allowed foreign students to stay in the US a bit longer after completion of their studies.
     
    The bill would require that employers first offer a vacant position to an equally or better qualified American worker before seeking an H1B or L-1 visa holder.
     
    It would also establish wage requirements for L-1 workers and improve H1B wage requirements to encourage companies to hire qualified American workers and prevent them from using foreign workers as a source of cheap labour.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian-American Lawmakers Slam Trump's 'Cruel' Immigration Policy

    US President Donald Trump's move to amend the existing immigration policies has resulted in widespread protests with Indian-American lawmakers slamming Trump for signing changes that are deemed "anti-immigrant".

    Indian-American Lawmakers Slam Trump's 'Cruel' Immigration Policy

    Mexican President Calls Off Us Trip Over Border Wall Spat With Trump

    Mexican President Calls Off Us Trip Over Border Wall Spat With Trump
    Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto on Thursday cancelled his trip to Washington, following US President Donald Trumps order to begin construction on the border wall.

    Mexican President Calls Off Us Trip Over Border Wall Spat With Trump

    First Hindu Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Says She Met Assad On Syria Trip

    First Hindu Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Says She Met Assad On Syria Trip
    The first Hindu elected to the Congress, Hawaiian Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, has said that she met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a secret, "fact-finding" trip to Syria and Lebanon.

    First Hindu Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Says She Met Assad On Syria Trip

    Indian Businessman To Spend 1 Million Dollars To Help Prisoners In Dubai

    Indian Businessman To Spend 1 Million Dollars To Help Prisoners In Dubai
    An Indian businessman in the UAE has pledged $1 million (Dh3.6 million) to pay off the debts of expatriates who are jailed here, a newspaper reported.

    Indian Businessman To Spend 1 Million Dollars To Help Prisoners In Dubai

    With Senate Okay, Nikki Haley Makes History

    With Senate Okay, Nikki Haley Makes History
    Although she converted to Christianity when she got married, she has continued to attend Sikh religious ceremonies. Her father, Ajit Singh Randhwa, wearing a red turban, sat proudly behind her during the hearings.

    With Senate Okay, Nikki Haley Makes History

    Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Ajit Pai To Head Communications Commission

    Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Ajit Pai To Head Communications Commission
    US President Donald Trump has picked Ajit Vardaraj Pai, an outspoken opponent of new net neutrality, to head the crucial Federal Communications Commission, making him the fourth Indian-American in the administration at the senior level.

    Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Ajit Pai To Head Communications Commission