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No Communication From U.S. On H-1B Visa Limits, Says Ministry Of External Affairs

We continue to reiterate and engage with the U.S. on H-1B visa issue, says foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

We continue to reiterate and engage with the U.S. government on this matter, says external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
We continue to reiterate and engage with the U.S. government on this matter, says external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

India has not received any communication from the U.S. on its reported decision to consider H-1B visa cap for nations that mandate storing of data locally, the Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday.

In its data localisation policy released last year, the Reserve Bank of India mandated payments firms to store domestic customer data exclusively in India without creating mirror sites overseas. Some U.S. firms, including Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc., are opposed to the norms as it would require them to make additional investments.

Irked by such requirements, the Donald Trump administration is considering limits on H-1B visas, which allow foreign professionals to work in the U.S., according to a media report.

At a media briefing announcing the India visit of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said no communication has been received on the H-1B visa limits issue from the U.S.

"We have not heard anything officially from the U.S. government. We continue to reiterate and engage with the U.S. government on this matter," he said.

The Ministry Commerce and Industry too has not received any communication on a H-1B visa cap, said people in the ministry familiar with the matter.

On Thursday, Nasscom said that H-1B visa limits would weaken U.S. firms that depend on these work permits to bridge the skills gap and put jobs at risk.

That Indians account for a large chunk of H-1B visas issued every year is testimony to their skill set, Nasscom said, pointing out that a "vast majority" of these visas were being sponsored by global and U.S. multinational companies.