Concern over US plans to change visa rules - Hindu

HYDERABAD: The National Association for Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) appears to be more worried about the impact in India of proposed changes in immigration laws in the United States than the tax reforms recently mooted by President Barack Obama.

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The changes, which have been proposed by two Senators and not the government, seek to amend the rules governing the issue of H1 and L1 visas. This will give priority to U.S. citizens and restrict opportunities for overseas companies, the smaller ones in particular, in the name of checking “misuse and abuse” of visas. “This will have a severe impact on Indian companies, which are generally under the smaller category, reducing their competitiveness in serving U.S. firms,” Nasscom president Som Mittal said in an interview here on Tuesday. He said the proposed changes should not just be viewed in the context of immigration-related issues but as being trade-related. “It’s a clear demand-supply issue and the government cannot put restrictions on trade.” According to him, the U.S. government has an opportunity to shift its focus for a comprehensive reform of immigration policy rather than “tweaking” the existing policy. “We hope that law-makers and thought leaders in the U.S. will take measures to see that no indirect or direct protectionist measures are used by the government,” Mr. Mittal said.The protectionist measures being talked about in the U.S., he said, would impact not only Indian companies but American majors that are witnessing growth of the order of two and a half times in their business outside their country.

Full Story: Concern over US plans to change visa rules - Hindu