India Complaints Against The US On Visa Fee Rise At WTO

05 Mar 2016

Indian Government has lodged a complaint against the United States on increasing the work visa fee for H1B and L1 visa categories. The visa fees for both the visa classes were increased in the month of December. The proposed hike would be effective from April 1; Though US President Barack Obama has assured action on the fee hike. But, there was no significant announcement till now.

India has notified its stand by saying that, the US has violated the commitments of accepting services. India is the largest software service exporter to the US. US responding to the India’s complaint said that US did not violate WTO obligations, as services do not come under the WTO dispute settlement issue.

Indian IT companies are serious the US decision to increase the visa fees hike on H1B and L1 visa categories. Indian companies generate revenue of over 150 billion dollars through sending the employs to client locations and work for the projects. This visa fee hike will have a significant impact on the industry as they are the largest seekers of the visa.

Indian Software giant’s preparedness for the visa fee hike is unknown, but the visa fee hike would normally burden the Indian IT sector. India is the only country which is taking largest proportion of the H1B visa categories.

As April 1 is pretty close, the date for accepting applications for H1B visas, Indian firms are a little bit worried, and US Government has not made any impactful announcement. India has raised the US visa fee hike at various stages, but there was no resultant measure from the US amicably.

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