Arguing strongly in favour of the H1-B visa programme, an umbrella body of Indian and American industrialists has asked the US Congress to stop targeting Indian companies with discriminatory fees as they have brought investment and quality jobs into the country.
The US India Business Council (USIBC) has said that the H1-B programme has helped attract billions of dollars of Indian investment into the US, which in turn is supporting tens of thousands of quality jobs in all 50 states.
"The continued targeting of Indian companies could put these opportunities in jeopardy.
"Unfortunately, Congress has targeted Indian firms and used them to pay for unrelated US initiatives by imposing large and discriminatory fee increases on 50/50 firms seeking to sponsor new H-1B and L-1 visas," said Ron Somers, president of USIBC.
The hike in the visa fee under these two programmes was included in two pieces of legislation signed into laws -- the Supplemental
Border Security Bill and the 9/11 Health
Responders Bill. In both instances, the fees were included as revenue offsets.
"...in several instances prominent Members of Congress spoke out against Indian companies, in one instance calling them 'chop shops'", Somers said in his letter to Congressman Elton Gallegly, head of the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy & Enforcement, House Committee on the Judiciary.
The letter dated March 29 was submitted for consideration for a subcommittee hearing on the H-1B visa programme.
Corporate America, Somers said remains concerned with continuing false perceptions about the nature of Indian investment in the US and
the use of the H1-B programme by Indian companies.
"The specific targeting of Indian companies could create unintended consequences, including a backlash against US companies operating in India," he said.
Somers said such rhetoric undermines America's overall bilateral relationship and puts in jeopardy important commercial opportunities
as the strategic partnership between the US and India rests on the successful growth of commercial ties between the world's two largest free-market democracies.
"We hope that the Congress and Administration will work constructively with the private sector to design an H1-B visa programme that fosters deeper trade and investment and drives continued growth, job creation and innovation here in the United States," Somers said.
Voicing overwhelming support for the H-1B visa programme, Somers said this has been a critical tool in strengthening bilateral trade
and investment.
"Indeed, this programme has helped spur economic growth, job creation, and innovation here in the United States," he said, adding that ensuring a balanced and fair H-1B programme is critical to the ability of US companies to tap global talent and remain competitive in global economy.