India is engaged with the US administration and its Congress on issues related to the movement of Indian professionals including those pertaining to the H-1B visa programme, said Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, Muraleedharaan also said, "These issues were raised during the India-US foreign office consultation on July 7, 2020. We have emphasised that this is a mutually-beneficial partnership, which should be nurtured by easing mobility of skilled professionals."
Regarding the effect on the movement of Indian professionals after changes in the US visa, he said they may temporarily affect the movement of Indian skilled professional who avail of the non-immigrant visa programme.
He also clarified that the US State Department's exceptions to the ban on issuing nonimmigrant visas had included IT workers as essential workers.
The US government in June had suspended the entry of several non-immigrant visa categories till December due to COVID-19 pandemic.
