Do something tangible on visa issue, Khullar asks U.S.

India has asked the United States to address its concerns with regard to the H1B and L1 visas.

“We have made it amply clear that they have to do something tangible now, because it can’t carry on in terms of assurances. If this doesn’t get done then this problem will fester,” the Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said on Thursday after meeting top U.S. officials here.

The U.S. delegation was led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Francisco J Sanchez.

So far, India has been given assurances by the U.S. that they would do something, but nothing has been done so far, Mr. Khullar said after the launch of the first India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue in Washington here.

The Indian Chief Secretary also strongly conveyed to the U.S. authorities the sentiments of the Indian businesses that are finding it tough to get L1 and H1B category visas.

Mr. Khullar also met the Deputy National Security Advisor, Michael Froman, Robert Hormatz, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs; and Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives, Demetrios Marantis.

Besides, H-1B and L1 visas, the Indian delegation headed by Mr. Khullar, which arrived in New York on March 15, also talked about anti-dumping issues.

The Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Meera Shankar, said the trade and economic relationship between India and the U.S., have been growing substantially.

In calendar year 2010, the two way trade touched USD 48.75 billion, much higher than the previous record of USD 43 billion in 2008.

Mr. Khullar said the purpose of the dialogue was to further cement the strategic alliance and partnership from the commercial perspective.

The second leg of the commercial dialogue between the two countries would take place in India this year.