Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday indicated that he would take up the visa issue with the US authorities during his visit to America.
“These (IT industry issues) are matters of discussion with the appropriate authorities there. Once I do discuss and get an opportunity, I will let you know,” he told reporters when asked whether he would take up concerns of the Indian IT sector with the US administration.
Jaitley will reach Washington tomorrow to attend the Spring Meetings of IMF and World Bank as well as deliberations of G20 nations. He is slated to meet the US Treasury Secretary, among others, during his five-day visit.
The Indian IT industry has expressed serious concerns over the US Government moving towards tightening the rules for grant of H-1B visa, mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work.
Companies like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys that send engineers on H-1B visas to the US could come under pressure in coming days as US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to replace the current lottery system for issuing work visas with a so-called merit-based approach.
IT Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said there was no cause for alarm, as the review process has just started.
Industry body Nasscom warned that the move could have “unintended consequences” even though it downplayed any immediate impact on IT companies this year.
“No new changes are being implemented immediately ... Nothing is being proposed that would impact or change the FY18 H-1B lottery that is currently underway,” Nasscom said in a statement on Wednesday