Abuse of H1B, L1 visas in India: US Official

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Apr 28 (PTI) Noting that Indians have been
benefited most from the H-1B and L1 work visas, a senior US
official has said there have been some cases of abuse of these
visa categories in India.
"Our consulates or the embassy in India had become
aware of certain abuses of those categories of visas, and they
are taking measures to make sure that those abuses do not
continue," Janice Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of State for
Consular Affairs told reporters.
"There's an awful lot of outreach with the business
community in India. We have a very good relationship with
NASSCOM and other business groups there. I even spoke to them
when -- during a recent visit to Delhi," Jacobs said.
"Over 50 per cent of the H1-B and L visas that we
issue worldwide are issued in India. So those two programs, I
think, have really benefited Indian nationals over the years,"
he said in response to a question.
Jacobs said the US was very interested in
strengthening the economic partnership that it has with India.
"I think these visas are part of that. So we don't
want people who might try to abuse the system to spoil it for
everyone else," he said.
"So we do a lot of presentations and outreach on
trying to explain what the procedures are, what the
requirements are, just to make sure that everyone is sort of
playing by the book, so that we're able to issue visas to
qualified applicants," Jacobs said.