FM Arun Jaitley says US Visa fee hike discriminatory

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has called the US Visa fee hike discriminatory at a bilateral meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman,

Jaitley spoke about ‘India's concern over the hike in the H-1B and L1 visa fee, which is discriminatory and in effect is largely targeted at Indian IT companies.’

Last year, the US imposed a special fee of up to $ 4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas, popular among Indian IT companies to fund a 9/11 healthcare Act and biometric tracking system.

Jaitley expressed India's keenness in early conclusion of a Totalization Agreement with the United States, a finance ministry statement quoting him said.

As per Industry estimates, Indian professionals contributed over $25 billion to the US Social Security during the last decade, without being able to retrieve their contributions.

Image credit: Indiatimes