A bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to eliminate the per country cap on employment-based Green Card, a move which is likely to benefit Indian IT professionals languishing over decades of waiting for the Permanent Resident Card. The legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman John Curtis. The Equal Access to green cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act, 2021 needs to be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to the White House for the president to sign it into a law. A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently.
Investors are already factoring in the impact. The IT Index on the BSE exchange dipped 2.5 per cent, with Infosys, Wipro and TCS showing a decline.
The Obama administration, responding to India's angst over the sharp hike in H-1B and L1 visa fees as discriminatory and anti-trade in services, has argued that India is equally discriminatory.
These firms invested $17.9 bn and have also contributed $147 million towards corporate social responsibility and $588 million as R&D expenditure in the US.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma has shrugged off the recent irritants that have cropped up less than six weeks before US President Barack Obama makes his visit to India as 'transient negativity', and predicted they would 'get dissipated' soon.
Ignoring India's concerns on raising of certain category of work visa fee, the White House on Thursday said President Barack Obama would sign into law a comprehensive plan to secure the Southwest border, including $600 million in supplemental funds for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities.
Congruence on terrorism, current disquiet on immigration, short-term visa would top the wish list.
The proposals being put forward by a coalition of powerful Democratic Senators are aimed at fixing the country's broken immigration system.
The provisions of the border security bill, which allows massive increase in the fees on categories of H-1B and L1 visas, is discriminatory against the Indian companies, India has said and asked the United States to amend it.
The US is reviewing the suggestion that the border security bill, that significantly increases visa fees of H1-B and L1 categories, was not WTO compliant, days after President Barack Obama signed it into law.
Ginni Rometty, who is on Donald Trump's advisory committee, discusses the importance of an open workforce, work visas, and why India is a microcosm of all of IBM.
IT companies have, in recent times, re-invested gains arising from a weaker rupee.
'I do not think that we are showing Hindu humanity and humaneness in the process of the National Register of Citizens.'
'That an Indian can lead the world's top software company is an important milestone for Indian Americans and for America. But the larger message is for India itself: Imagine what Indians can achieve at home if they put their differences aside and start helping one another,' says Vivek Wadhwa.
With countries like the US restricting hiring of foreign workers on H-1B work visas, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday opposed imposition of restrictions on international migration.
'Do not panic; have a good rapport with the HR and negotiate if they can map you to some other requirement with lesser compensation. Take sometime off -- 10 to 15 days; relax; be with your parents or friends then come back and prepare a good resume and learn new skills.' A chemical engineer and IT professional share their layoff lessons.
'We know that if the IT industry goes on strike even for a day or two, the repercussions will be international, and we will suffer as a country.' 'We don't want that to happen.'
"Protectionism is not new. The attention that is given is because there is a political and emotional element to it." TCS COO N G Subramaniam on why his company is optimistic despite global headwinds.
'I am hopeful that you will see more focused attention on this relationship,' former US assistant secretary of state Nisha Desai Biswal tells Alokananda Chakraborty.
There was a discussion on trade matters, market access, regulatory issues and barriers. Both leaders underlined the importance of free and fair trade
Jeff Sessions, a close confidant of US President Donald Trump, was on Thursday confirmed to be the next attorney general, after a historically tumultuous process that saw the senator come under fire for his views on race and civil rights.
Sensex may remain under pressure this week due to weak global factors.
Indian information technology firms continue to be accused of misusing H1B and L1 visas and depriving the US youth of employment opportunities. However, these very IT firms are increasingly hiring locals from foreign countries.
'China has gone too long as a rogue power, trashing international norms, agreements, and treaties as if they were not the paper they were written on.' 'The ill-advised attack on Ladakh may be the beginning of the end of that nonsense,' advocates Rajeev Srinivasan.
The FICCI president expressed concern over the proposed curbs on H1B and L1 visas and withholding of duty free imports on a large number of products from India.
The PM will meet President Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time at the White House on Monday. "I think that the US really appreciates India, and I think that President Trump realises that India has been a force for good in the world and that it's a relationship that's important. And I think that will come through in the visit on Monday," the official said.
"In terms of local taxes, in terms of local small business productivity, local large business competitiveness, their educational outcomes, their entrepreneurial work, that's what matters," the Microsoft CEO said.
While the Congress has found success in scoring over the BJP on Twitter and Facebook, it has failed to match the Sangh Parivar's finesse at utilizing WhatsApp as its primary medium to send its message across to the Karnataka electorate, reports Archis Mohan.
'There's a lot of confusion. It started because the President's tweet was all-encompassing.' 'It has been watered down over the last few days though to more narrow classes of immigrants.'
Had the slain Indian-American engineer stayed in India, he would have earned less but his life might have been spared, Sunanda K Datta-Ray says, pondering the question of where one belongs.
How a chilling 911 call from a bartender led to the arrest of Adam Purinton, the man who killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injured Alok Madasani and Ian Grillot.
TCS, Infosys ramp up onshore hiring; Infosys committed to hire 25,000 over 5 years.
US President Barack Obama's plan to shield up to 4.7 million undocumented immigrants from deportation may be immensely significant, but only a comprehensive legislation from the Congress with a larger goal could do justice to immigrant expectations.
The Mumbai-headquartered company, however, said it would selectively hire experienced employees from outside.
The US seems to be engaging in a game of brinkmanship where President Trump's visit has been used as 'leverage' to pressure India into agreeing to a trade deal, notes Kashish Parpiani.
'We are on the world map. Every country is watching this event.'
Three hate crimes have deepened the fear among South Asians that Trump's rhetoric encouraged violence against them, but there is no evidence that Indians have been specifically targeted, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
The guidance is certain to cause severe anxiety and uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of international students who are studying in the country and for those who were preparing to arrive in the US to begin their education when the new academic session begins in September.
PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Washington DC after meeting chief executives of major US companies.
The variety of options combined with global student mix makes it an apt destination for international students.
