Drop in L-1 Visas in India Means Frustration for American Companies
Feb 11, 2012
Houston, TX (Law Firm Newswire) February 10, 2012 – U.S. State Department data shows that it was a tough year to transfer an employee from India to the United States in 2011.
L-1 visas were especially tough to obtain at U.S. posts in India during fiscal year 2011 as 28 percent fewer applications were accepted than were in FY 2010, according to the National Foundation for American Policy. The numbers dropped from 35,896 to 25,898.
Meanwhile, the number of L-1 visas granted in the rest of the world went up by about 15 percent.
“The denial rates at some of the U.S. posts in India are going to become a serious problem for American companies,” said Houston immigration attorney Annie Banerjee. “This will hurt productivity for American companies who need to transfer their Indian employees. This should be an easy process – especially in a down economy.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents many of the large corporations that use L-1 visas to transfer executives and managers from around the globe to the United States for work. The official statement from the chamber indicated frustration with the data and a desire to improve the approval rates.
Corporations fear a change in policy will continue to make it difficult to bring Indian employees to the United States and that could slow down business, according to the NFAP report.
“I hope the State Department resolves this discrepancy quickly because it is American companies that will suffer if they cannot continue to look to India for skilled executives and managers in technology and other fields,” Banerjee said. “Some of these industries could have to change their business model.”
Annie Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer specializing in helping people become United States citizens. The law offices assist in visas and other legal immigration requirements as well. To learn more, visit http://www.visatous.com.
Law Offices of Annie Banerjee
131 Brooks Street, Suite #300
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Phone: (281) 242-9139
