Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

No Restrictions On H-1B Visa: US official

IANS, 14 Sep, 2017 12:32 PM
  • No Restrictions On H-1B Visa: US official
A senior US official on Thursday sought to allay India’s concerns on the H-1B visa programme, which is being “reviewed” by the Trump administration, saying there are no “restrictions” in place.
 
The official said around 70 per cent of the visas issued under the H-1B category over the past nine months have gone to Indians and that a record 1.2 million visas of Indians were adjudicated by the US last year.
 
The year-over-year increase in terms of issuance of H-1B visas and L1 visas (work permit) to Indians is six per cent each, the official said.
 
“The President (Donald Trump) spoke about review. There are no restrictions but it (H-1B) is under review,” he said, adding the issue was not on the agenda for the upcoming Indo- US bilateral dialogue on consular relations, but it may come up in the course of the talks.
 
The issue of the repealing of the Deferred Action for Children Arrival (DACA) programme, which has hit more than 7,000 Indian-Americans, may also figure in the talks scheduled to be held on September 27 in Washington.
 
Trump had signed an executive order in April for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop “visa abuses”.
 
The DACA amnesty programme granted work permits to immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children.
 
The official also said the US processed around 88,000 student visa applications last year, which is an increase of 15 per cent over 2015. Currently, there are around 1.6 lakh Indian students in the US, which is the second highest number of international students, after China.
 
Indian citizens made up six per cent of worldwide immigrant visa applicants, making them the fifth largest group of new immigrants after those from China, Philippines, Dominican Republic and Mexico.
 
The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations. 

MORE International ARTICLES

Hindu Underage Girl ‘Forcibly Converted And Married Off' In Pakistan

Hindu Underage Girl ‘Forcibly Converted And Married Off' In Pakistan
Ravita Meghwar, 16, had allegedly been abducted by men from the Syed community of Wanharo village near Nagarparkar area of the district, on June 6th

Hindu Underage Girl ‘Forcibly Converted And Married Off' In Pakistan

Indian-Origin Teen Dies In Malaysia After Brutal Assault By Bullies, Mother Asks 'Why? Why? Why?'

Indian-Origin Teen Dies In Malaysia After Brutal Assault By Bullies, Mother Asks 'Why? Why? Why?'
Why must this happen to my son? What did he do to deserve this? Who am I going to scold? Who am I going to talk to? With whom am I going to share my sadness and happiness?

Indian-Origin Teen Dies In Malaysia After Brutal Assault By Bullies, Mother Asks 'Why? Why? Why?'

PICS: Gurunanak Darbar Gurudwara In UAE Holds Iftar For People Of All Religions

PICS: Gurunanak Darbar Gurudwara In UAE Holds Iftar For People Of All Religions
In a heart-warming gesture, a gurdwara here, the largest in the Gulf region, organised an Iftar where people of different religions and over 30 nationalities broke the Muslim fast together.

PICS: Gurunanak Darbar Gurudwara In UAE Holds Iftar For People Of All Religions

London Fire: Muslims Awake For Sehri In Ramzan Helped Save Many Lives

London Fire: Muslims Awake For Sehri In Ramzan Helped Save Many Lives
Muslim Residents Observing Ramadan Have Been Hailed As Heroes After They Helped Save Many Sleeping Neighbours From The Horrific Grenfell Tower Fire

London Fire: Muslims Awake For Sehri In Ramzan Helped Save Many Lives

Two Canadians Among Those Sought By U.S. Authorities Over Attack On Protesters

Two Canadians Among Those Sought By U.S. Authorities Over Attack On Protesters
WASHINGTON — Two Canadians are among more than a dozen people sought in connection with a violent attack on protesters during an official visit by Turkey's president in the U.S. capital last month.

Two Canadians Among Those Sought By U.S. Authorities Over Attack On Protesters

Canadian Soccer Star Cyle Larin Arrested For Drunk Driving In Florida

Canadian Soccer Star Cyle Larin Arrested For Drunk Driving In Florida
Canadian international Cyle Larin, a young MLS forward seen destined for European soccer glory, instead found himself in jail Thursday after being arrested on a drunk-driving charge.

Canadian Soccer Star Cyle Larin Arrested For Drunk Driving In Florida