India advocates streamlined visa processes in 14th India-US Trade Policy Forum

India’s requests align with ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral economic cooperation

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

In the recent 14th India-US Trade Policy Forum, held in New Delhi on Friday, India put forth crucial requests to the United States, focusing on simplified visa procedures for traders and investors. Led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who co-chaired the forum with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the discussions highlighted key concerns and proposed measures to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Key Points:

Visa Simplification: India emphasized the need for streamlined visa procedures, particularly for traders and investors. The country requested simplified processes to address challenges faced by domestic businesses in obtaining timely US visas.

H-1B Visa Renewals: India urged the permanent establishment of a system allowing eligible applicants to renew H-1B visas locally, eliminating the requirement to return to their home country. The pilot stamping for renewals has already commenced on a trial basis.

• India’s requests align with ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral economic cooperation

• The proposed measures aim to facilitate smoother movement of professionals and business visitors between the two nations, fostering stronger economic and technological partnerships.

Efficiency in Processing: Minister Goyal highlighted the hurdles faced by Indian business visitors due to visa processing times and called upon the US to enhance processing efficiency to facilitate smoother movement of professionals.

Treaty Status for E1 and E2 Visas: India sought treaty status from the US for E1 and E2 visas, crucial for traders and investors. The aim is to include India among treaty countries, similar to China, for easier and faster visa issuance.

Pilot Program for H-1B Visa Renewals: The United States is set to launch a pilot program on January 29, 2024, allowing selected H-1B visa holders to renew their work permits within the US. This move is expected to address challenges and provide more flexibility for H-1B visa holders, benefiting US industry partners relying on skilled foreign workers.

India’s requests align with ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral economic cooperation. The proposed measures aim to facilitate smoother movement of professionals and business visitors between the two nations, fostering stronger economic and technological partnerships.

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