Arun Jaitley raises work visa issues with US

Arun Jaitley, Indian Finance Minister, has raised the reforms issue with regard to the L1 and H-1B visa processes during his discussions with the Treasury and Commerce Secretaries of the United States and requested them to take into account the contributions made by Indian professionals to the American economy.

Mr Jaitley, who is currently in the US on a one-week tour, held talks with his US counterpart, Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, and Wilbur Ross, US Commerce Secretary. Speaking on the structural reforms that India had embarked on through various measures, including the GST, he also underlined the contributions that Indian professionals had made in the US, and said this needs to be befittingly acknowledged by them.

Press Trust of India quotes him as pitching strongly for reforms in work visa processes of H-1B and L-1 and Indian professionals’ social security contribution in order that highly-skilled Indians serving interests of America are not unjustly dispossessed of their well-earned money.

Coveted by Indian IT professionals, the H-1B visa is a work visa granted to non-immigrants, allowing US companies to hire international workers in specialised occupations.

With the L-1 visa, foreign workers can be transferred temporarily to the US in the executive, managerial or specialised knowledge category to carry on employment with an office of the same employer at its branch, parent, affiliate or subsidiary.

Earlier, a keynote address was delivered by Subhash Chandra Garg, the Secretary, DEA (Department of Economic Affairs), on micro-pension where he emphasised on the major challenge of convincing policymakers and the need for potential youngsters to obtain pension after they retire from active life.

Appreciating the efforts of organisers in coming out with a well-researched book as the country and thematic reforms action required to fulfil the dream of arranging for pensions to over 1.2 billion people globally.

Garg also met with the CEO, World Bank; the executive vice-president, CEO, MIGA and CEO, Global Infrastructure Hub in addition to the India World Bank team, which was led by vice-president South Asia.

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