H-1B visas, Indians' security must be taken up with America in major way: Defence Expert

Defence Expert Major General (Retd.) P.K. Sehgal on Monday said the concerns over possible clamp down on H-1B visas and safety of Indians in the United States are at present the most 'critically important' factors to India and must to be taken up with America in a major way.

Defence Expert (Retd.) Sehgal told ANI that the Indian contention and view point is that the Indian IT companies are actually in a very major way contributing to the growth of American economy plus they are also employing around 200-300 thousands Indian and hence it is a mutual win-win situation for both.

"These issues are of critically important to India. As far as H-1B is concerned at least 300 to 500 thousands Indian are working in It companies in America. And the largest number H-1B recipients are Indians. Trump says America first, always and every time and he wants to take a very harsh view on it. The Indian contention and Indian view point is that the Indian IT companies are actually in a very major way contributing to the growth of American economy plus they are also employing around 200-300 thousands Americans and hence, it is a mutual win-win situation for both. And this is one issue we are going to take with America in a very major way," he added.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar will embark on a four-day official visit to the United States beginning February 28.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will be meeting with chairpersons of key Congressional Committees besides Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

He is expected to discuss various bilateral issues including India's concerns over possible curtailing of H-1B visas and workers' safety following the Kansas hate crime during his four-day U.S. visit.

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized fields.