US tries to console India over visa fee hike row

Washington, Aug 19: After India announced that it may file complaint in World Trade Organization (WTO) against United States over H1-B visa fee hike issue, US now claimed that they are trying to answer for India's questions over the issue.

"We are in touch with the Indian Government and are trying as best as we can to answer the questions they have about this new law," said US official.

He said that India's concern over the visa fee hike is not a secret but US government is totally unaware that India may approach to WTO.

"We are not aware that India has taken any action on the WTO front, but if and when they do that will be a question posed to US Trade Representative," informed the official.

US President Barack Obama had already signed the USD 600 border security bill to law, which increased the H-1B and L1 visas fee for the next five years, which would mostly impact Indian IT companies.

Businesses in India and the US, however, termed the bill as "discriminatory " and said this would undermine the growing Indo-US economic relationship.

But US official said, "We understand the Government of India's concerns. We realize it could impact Indian companies that invest in the US and we also understand the potential impact on Indians who work in the US as well as some American businesses."

OneIndia News