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The decision to issue 'blanket' L visa, a US visa for intra-company transfers, only from Chennai will increase visa costs and logistical difficulties and Indian IT firms may respond by logging in lesser number of applications, industry body Nasscom said.
In view of this decision, Nasscom believes that this move will burden the companies that are leveraging Indian talent with increased visa costs and also cause logistical difficulties in management, Nasscom said in a statement.
The US embassy said 'blanket' L visa will be issued only from Chennai and not at four other places -- New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad starting December 1.
The L1B and L1A categories include specialised knowledge professionals, executives and managers transferring to the US.
The new norm will not affect the spouses and children of L1 visa holders - they and individual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US Consular section in India, the embassy had said.
Saying that the measure defeats the whole purpose of having Consular operations at various missions in a large country like India, Nasscom is of the view that the industry may respond by logging in lesser number of applications for L1-B visas.
Nasscom said it has learnt that since Immigrant visa issuance has moved out of Chennai, the centre is processing 20 per cent less visas and hence have the bandwidth.
Also, the centre has been instructed to expedite appointments for applicants travelling out of district for the appearance once the centralisation decision is implemented.
The body said while it remains hopeful that this will help cut down irregularities to bring about consistency in the visa adjudication process and bring down rejection rates, it would also increase the cost and time consumed for IT firms.
We feel that this move would certainly make the process more time-consuming and hamper the regular functioning of the companies with the increase in visa costs that can be attributed to flight costs, lodging, F&B, other travel related incidentals, not to forget the productivity loss of 1-2 days for each visa applicant, Nasscom said.
The Indian IT sector earns about 60 per cent of its annual revenues from the US market and any changes in visa norms impacts the industry that sends many highly-skilled Indians to work there.
Over the last few quarters, Indian IT firms have faced problems sending their employees on clients' sites as the number of visa rejections have gone up.
Also, the hike in H1B visa (under which skilled workers get temporary work permit) fee has also impacted the cost of sending employees to the US.(PTI)
In view of this decision, Nasscom believes that this move will burden the companies that are leveraging Indian talent with increased visa costs and also cause logistical difficulties in management, Nasscom said in a statement.
The US embassy said 'blanket' L visa will be issued only from Chennai and not at four other places -- New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad starting December 1.
The L1B and L1A categories include specialised knowledge professionals, executives and managers transferring to the US.
The new norm will not affect the spouses and children of L1 visa holders - they and individual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US Consular section in India, the embassy had said.
Saying that the measure defeats the whole purpose of having Consular operations at various missions in a large country like India, Nasscom is of the view that the industry may respond by logging in lesser number of applications for L1-B visas.
Nasscom said it has learnt that since Immigrant visa issuance has moved out of Chennai, the centre is processing 20 per cent less visas and hence have the bandwidth.
Also, the centre has been instructed to expedite appointments for applicants travelling out of district for the appearance once the centralisation decision is implemented.
The body said while it remains hopeful that this will help cut down irregularities to bring about consistency in the visa adjudication process and bring down rejection rates, it would also increase the cost and time consumed for IT firms.
We feel that this move would certainly make the process more time-consuming and hamper the regular functioning of the companies with the increase in visa costs that can be attributed to flight costs, lodging, F&B, other travel related incidentals, not to forget the productivity loss of 1-2 days for each visa applicant, Nasscom said.
The Indian IT sector earns about 60 per cent of its annual revenues from the US market and any changes in visa norms impacts the industry that sends many highly-skilled Indians to work there.
Over the last few quarters, Indian IT firms have faced problems sending their employees on clients' sites as the number of visa rejections have gone up.
Also, the hike in H1B visa (under which skilled workers get temporary work permit) fee has also impacted the cost of sending employees to the US.(PTI)
Published date : 05 Nov 2011 03:43PM
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