US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner expects an increase in the number of visas granted to Indians. Though he did not give any details, the statement could be a boost to Indian information technology companies seeking more H-1 B work visas, an issue the industry has been trying to resolve.

The visiting Treasury Secretary discussed with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram how US business could contribute to India's infrastructure and investment needs. They also explored ways to improve coordination on bilateral tax matters.

On the fear that outsourcing and jobs for non-US citizens may shrink after the Presidential elections in the US, Geithner said, "We expect significant increase in the visas."

Experts from the Indian IT industry think this could be a positive message.

"There can be two interpretations: one, there could be an option to increase the cap of 65,000 visas in a year, which could be filled up in the next two-three months (before the year ends). Second, it can also mean removing the bottlenecks," an IT industry expert who did not wish to be named told Business Line.

IT companies declined comment as they are in 'silent period' before their results are announced starting with Infosys on October 12.

Geithner has supported issuing more visas to Indians since last year under the H-1B visa program, which is offered to highly skilled professionals and students to live and work in the US. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, at a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna in New York, had said the US was going for a broader review of its visa regime, but it would have to await the outcome of the Presidential election next month.

Univision, the nation's top-rated Spanish-language broadcast network, entered into a major debate with The New York Times in a series of articles last week on its English-language website.  The debate was sparked by The Times' Public Editor Margaret Sullivan's defense of the paper's decision to continue using the term "illegal immigrant," in its pages and online. Sullivan defended her position stating the word illegal immigrant was an accurate description of the person's immigration status. Latinos largely find the term offensive, and so, does using the term "illegal immigrant" define or disparage a certain section of a community?

Let us put the word in correct context. First, immigration violations should not be considered crimes as such. They are not adjudicated under any criminal or penal code. Rather, immigration violations are better construed as administrative infractions. As a general rule, it is not a crime for someone who is not in lawful status in the US to remain present in the United States. The Supreme Court has ruled that it is not a crime to seek or engage in unauthorized employment. The removal of an unauthorized foreign national is an administrative matter and the federal officials have wide discretion to grant lawful status to otherwise removable foreign nationals. For example, if an unauthorized person is trying to support his family by working or has "children born in the United States, long ties to the community, or a record of distinguished military service," officials may let him stay. Also, if individuals or their family may be politically persecuted or harmed upon return to their country of origin, they may also remain in the United States under a grant of asylum. Immigration infractions do not always result in deportation from the US, nor should they. In the US, a person is innocent unless proven guilty and to label a human being as illegal before any adjudication has taken place runs contrary to our jurisprudence.

 Finally, it is important to understand that the term "illegal immigrant" is a derogatory and hurtful term. The NY Times relies on the term "illegal tenant" as a pale defense for the use of the term "illegal" to describe out-of-status foreign nationals. The term "illegal immigrant" was first used in 1939 as a slur by the British toward the Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution by entering Palestine without authorization. Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel aptly said that "no human being is illegal." Sticks and stones aside, we must remember words have very powerful implications.

USA visa payment now made online

 "Last year, the number of Indians visiting USA was 6,50,000 and the number is increasing, so we planned ahead and wanted to create a visa system on an electronic forum which is better and faster," said the Consul General of US Embassy in India, Josh Glazeroff, who was in Chandigarh today to speak on the new system.

It is now possible to pay the visa fee online and for technical assistance, one could dial the call center or engage in an online chat at their portal. Josh says that this year the waiting time has been significantly reduced, with a maximum of ten days waiting for an appointment and that the consul section strives to relieve applicants within thirty minutes.

The Consul General said that the two time appointment might be a present inconvenience, but in the future, arrangements can be made to shorten the time frame to upto two days for applicants from the region who have to go to Delhi for the personal interview. Presently, there is a document collection center at Chandigarh and Josh says that if the embassy plans to expand their services in the country, the first place would be Chandigarh.

Indians are the second largest student population in USA after China, and though Josh says that the present immigration laws are 'complicated', students prefer to move out because of the increased competition at home

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/us-visa-payment-now-made-online/101

 

U.S. State Department Adds Taiwan to Visa Waiver Program

 

The United States has announced that it will include Taiwan in its Visa Waiver Program (VWP) starting November 1. Taiwanese nationals who are pre-approved, low-risk travelers will be able to stay in the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. Travelers will need to obtain authorization online.  The move may increase tourism from Taiwan.  In 2011, 290,000 Taiwanese visited the United States.  Currently 37 countries participate in the visa waiver program.

India & China Employment Based Priority Dates:

For November 2012

China                          India