Washington: In a move which would have a big impact on Indian IT companies in United States, American lawmakers in an attempt to restrict visas for skilled foreign workers has imposed a special fee of up to USD 4,500 on the H1B and L1 visas popular among Indian IT companies.
Congress leaders, while agreeing on the USD 1.1 trillion spending bill, on Wednesday decided to impose a special fee of USD 4,000 on certain categories of H1B visas and USD 4,500 on L1 visas.
The US House of Representative will vote on Friday on the USD 1.1 trillion spending bill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised the issue relating to H1B and L1 visas with US President Barack Obama when the latter thanked him in his telephonic conversation for his leadership role on achieving the historic agreement on climate change in Paris on December 12.
“PM shared with @POTUS concerns of Indian IT industry & professionals on proposed legislation in U.S. Congress relating to H1B & L1 visas,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.(ANI)