India In the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting, the US has shared its concerns about the difficulties domestic businesses are facing in getting visas on time and has urged the US to speed up the process. The issue of visas for Indian businesses was raised prominently during the 14th TPF meeting. It was co-chaired by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. India has also demanded that its domestic companies be allowed to participate in the procurement process at the US government level, which will help in increasing exports.
America assured to take action
The Commerce Ministry said in the statement that the two ministers recognized that the movement of professional and skilled workers, students, investors and business visitors between the countries contributes significantly to enhancing bilateral economic and technological partnerships. “Goyal highlighted the challenges faced by business visitors from India due to visa processing time and urged the US to expedite the process,” according to the joint statement. India has asked the US to make it a permanent process for Indian H1B visa holders to renew their visas in the US so that professionals do not have to come to India for the same, a government official said. At present, ‘State Side’ facility for this is running under a pilot program in America.
Facility to renew in America only
The ‘state-side’ facility means that a person with an H1B visa can renew it in the US itself. “Now, we are asking to make it permanent, and we are asking to extend this facility not only to the original visa holder but also to his family,” the official said. “This will prevent the family from having to return to India for visa renewal.” Apart from this, India has requested the US to recognize India as an ‘Approved Treaty Country’ for E1 and E2 visas. These visas are issued for businessmen and investors. At present, India is not an approved treaty country of the US for this visa. Both sides also acknowledged the role of professional services in promoting bilateral trade between India and the United States.
Demand was made to give opportunity to companies
India has sought to allow its domestic companies to participate in the procurement process at the US government level which will help in increasing exports. India has raised with the US the issue of allowing Indian companies to participate in the US government procurement process. For this, India has requested the US to designate it as a Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliant country. This issue came up for discussion during the 14th meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) here on Friday.
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