CHENNAI: United States on Friday said it continues to process H-1B visas from its missions across the world, including in India, and asserted that there was no change in its policy “at this point of time”. The clarification came from Robert G. Burgess, Consul General of the US in Chennai, amid reports that the Donald Trump administration is planning to curb H-1B visa extensions that could result in self-deportation of nearly 5 lakh to 7.5 lakh Indian Americans.
Responding to queries from journalists at a press conference here, Burgess said even if a law is brought in the US Congress on possible restrictions in issuance of visa, there would be a “robust and strong debate” even as he refused to comment on “hypothetical question” on whether the curbs would be brought at a later stage.
“The US Consulate in Chennai processes largest number of H-1B visas in the world. There is no change in the law on issuance of H1B visa and we continue to process visas. There might be some laws that are under review, but what I can say is there is no change at this point,” the US Consul General said.
He was bombarded with questions about the reported plans of the Trump administration to impose curbs on extension of H-1B visas as part of its “Buy American, Hire American” initiative, that would affect lakhs from southern India. Indian software engineers who work in the US as part of their “on-site assignment” travel on a H1B visa, which is extended periodically based on the recommendation from their respective firms.
The reported curbs on the extension of H-1B visa had attracted ire from several lawmakers in the US, who said such a move would drain American talent.
“That has not happened yet. Whether there would be any changes, I would be a hypothetical question for me to answer. It has not changed at this point. Even if there is any bill, there will a strong debate on the visa issue and the discussion will be robust,” he said.
Burgess also strongly defended the “Buy American, Hire American” initiative of the Trump administration saying it was a “completely natural and legitimate sentiment of Americans.”
“We put out country's interests first and it is only natural,” the US Consul General said, adding that India and the US have “several things in common” and pitched for greater cooperation between the two countries on a slew of sectors.
To a question on whether the US would provide help to the Indian government in locating the fishermen missing after Cyclone Ockhi, the American diplomat replied in the affirmative. Speaking about the US-India business relations, Burgess said two Chennai-based companies have set up their manufacturing units in the United States to cater to their customers there.
