New Delhi: Commenting on the US H-1B visa issue that has New Delhi worried over the possible fallout for Indian professionals, India on Thursday said it is “not an immigration issue” but rather “a trade and services issue”. It also said that while an executive order had been signed in the US — to review the current laws governing the programme — the legislative process there in this regard is to begin.
New Delhi indicated it was keeping a close watch on the situation and would be “making an assessment”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also referred to the “mutuality of interest” in trade and business ties between India and the US, adding that several US companies too operated from India.
The MEA said ties between the two countries are “strong”. According to news agency reports from Washington earlier, in an executive order signed on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had directed the departments of labour, state, homeland security and justice to review the current laws governing the programme to suggest changes to prioritise the most skilled and highest paid positions.
