IT industry voices objections to US Visa fee increase

Many Indian IT companies have voiced their objections over the recent US bill that will see an increase in the US Visa fee, saying its skilled workers should not be targeted to pay the healthcare burden of 9/11 victims.

ESTA

Indian IT companies have expressed their concerns about the Us Visa increases.

"It's a retrograde step targeting the Indian IT industry again to meet the healthcare costs in the US," Infosys Technologies chief executive S. Gopalakrishnan said.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 was passed by the US Congress late on Wednesday last week.

The bill will raise $4.3 billion over the next five years by taxing goods and services from countries like India, China and Thailand as well as an increased US Visa fee for certain subclasses, mainly affecting Indian skilled workers brought in for short term IT contracts.

"The move is inconsistent with the statements exchanged during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India," Wipro executive vice-president Suresh Senapathy said.

The American Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their ESTA applications to the US Embassy.