‘Assessing Impact on Industry’: India on Suspension of H-1B Visas
Trump had announced a ban on issuance of all H-1B visas, among other type of work visas, till the end of the year.
India on Thursday, 25 June, said it is assessing the impact of the Donald Trump administration's decision on H-1B visas on the Indian industry.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava responded to the suspension of H-1B visas by the US, saying, "This is likely to affect the movement of skilled professionals who avail of this non-immigrant visa program to work lawfully in the US. We are assessing the impact of the order on Indian nationals and industry."
On 23 June, US President Trump announced a ban on the issuance of all H-1B visas, among other type of work visas, till the end of the year, amid the growing unemployment crisis in the country due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Trump said the step was essential to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs. “The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L non-immigrant visa programs, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans,” he said.
An estimated 85,000 H1-B visas are issued each year.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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