US keen on visa policy amendments: John Kerry

, Aug 1: Following the concerns raised by the Indian government, pertaining to the stringency in the US visa policy, US secretary of state

assured that USA is keen to make amendments.

Indian ministries rue that the given policies will affect the IT companies that are functioning from the US.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, after attending the India-US strategic meeting with Kerry said,"We are not against the (immigration) Bill per se. Immigration is your internal matter. But we certainly have concerns with the provisions that will affect the Indian IT industry if the Bill is passed in the present form. I told Secretary Kerry it would give a very negative signal and that, too, at a time when India is opening up its economy for foreign players."

The BIll aims to double the cost of H1-B professional visas, restricting the companies to send workers in USA.

Secretary Kerry was generous in his assessment of what the new govt will do for the people: Sushma Swaraj, EAM

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

My colleagues and I see great potential in US as a global partner, as investors, and as trade partners: Sushma Swaraj, EAM

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

Was a great meeting with Mr.Kerry touching subjects such as security, energy, trade, investment, science & tech & global issues: EAM

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

Expressing Obama's will to make changes in the policy, Kerry said,"The House has not taken it up yet and it really appears that it won't, certainly, before the elections, which is in three months. The way it (draft immigration Bill) left the Senate leaves that it is in need of some amending...The US administration, President (Barack) Obama would support some changes that would deal with some of the issues (India's concerns) and other issues."

Together we have the opportunity to help India meet its challenges: John Kerry, US Secretary of State

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

Moment has never been more right to deliver on our (US-India) relation: John Kerry, US Secretary of State pic.twitter.com/8NLh8hWNzP

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

...it (Immigration Bill) will give a negative signal at a time when India is opening up: EAM Sushma Swaraj (2/2) pic.twitter.com/aadsFrbBuQ

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2014

Internal sources say that the matter was also taken up by the MoS of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman with US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on Thursday.

The Indian IT industry has heaved a sigh of relief, following Kerry's assuarance. Nasscom President R Chandra-shekhar, as reported by the Business Standard, said, "We welcome the comment from US Secretary of State John Kerry that the US government will likely tweak some aspects of the US immigration Bill."

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