H-1B not on bilateral agenda with US: Menon

Washington, Mar 12 (PTI) Though India has stressed on
gains from a liberal H-1B visa regime, New Delhi has said that
granting of such visas was the sovereign right of the US.

"This (H-1B) is not an issue that India and the US
negotiate or discuss. This is not part of a bilateral agenda
and it can't be by definition," Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Menon told reporters at the end of his visit here for
a first dialogue with the new US officials under President
Barack Obama's administration.

"H-1B visas were mentioned; yes in the conversations. We
discussed the situation. We were told what the present policy
is and we spoke about it. The rest is for the US to decide
about what to do about it. Issue of US visas is America's
sovereign function," he said.

Menon was asked about the restrictions imposed on H-1B
visa holders in the stimulus package. "It is not for us to
tell the US what their policy is going to be or vice versa.
But when it effects our nationals, we mention to them what we
think about it."

Responding to another question, Menon said there is an
issue of free movement of person, and it's an issue which is
being discussed consistently.

"It's a discussion between partners and it is their (US)
decision. This would be true whether we change our immigration
regime, or whether they do it," he said.