WASHINGTON: As Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met senior officials of the Trump administration in Washington on Monday to negotiate the first tranche of a trade agreement, former US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and senior foreign policy expert, Christopher Padilla has argued that the US move to restrict H-1B visas would “have an impact” on the trade negotiations with India.
While speaking to IANS in Washington, Padilla said that “for India, visas for skilled workers have always been a priority issue.”
“I do expect the H-1B issue to have an impact on the trade negotiations. For India, visas for skilled workers have always been a priority issue, and it has been the subject of discussions between trade negotiators before. It adds another tricky and sensitive issue to the menu of bilateral problems at a sensitive time, ” he added.
US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H-1B visa program, announcing a $100, 000 fee for each new application.
The proclamation caused immense confusion over the weekend as it seemed to suggest that it would impact the current H-1B visa holders, who may face hurdles in returning to the United States.
The White House issued a clarification to IANS on Saturday, saying that this is a “one-time fee” that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holders.
“This is a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. It ONLY applies to new visas, not renewals or current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle, ” a White House official told IANS.
A White House Spokesperson also clarified to IANS that the policy would “discourage companies from spamming the system.”