H1B visas may be decided through lottery this year

The much sought H-1B work visas could be decided through lottery this year, industry experts and officials feel based on initial feedback from companies, as the US starts accepting applications from on Monday. If it happens it would be for the first time since 2008 that the fate of thousands of applications for H-1B visas [...] Read more »

Microsoft: H-1B visa employees crucial to US economy

WASHINGTON: As IT companies in India and the US started filling petitions for the most coveted H-1B work visas, software giant Microsoft has stressed on importance of the visa in retaining America’s competitiveness and urged the US Senate to pass a bill pending before it in this regard. “While the vast majority of our US [...] Read more »

Indian, US firms seek Obama’s help on visa delays

Top Indian and American IT companies has sought the intervention of US President Barack Obama on “unprecedented delays and uncertainty” around L1 work visas, which they argued is badly effecting their business and work, a media report said. In a letter to Obama, these companies claimed that immigration authorities were exceeding the law in rejecting [...] Read more »

IT Inc welcomes easing of US visa norms

NEW DELHI: In good news for Indian travellers, the United States on Wednesday said it would waive the personal interview for some Indians who are renewing their visas, valid or expired, within four years. “This new programme will permit consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified applicants who are renewing their visa within 48 [...] Read more »

Cognizant, HCL under US embassy scanner

A view of HCL at Navalur in Chennai. ‘Irregularities’ in visa applications   Cognizant Technology Solutions and HCL Technologies were under the scanner of the US Embassy last year for visa application-related irregularities, sources said. The irregularities were detected in application made as part of the business executive programme (BEP) that is designed to speed [...] Read more »