Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived in the U.S. Tuesday to begin a four-day visit.
WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived in the U.S. Tuesday to begin a four-day summit to discuss bilateral relations with senior Trump administration officials.
According to multiple reports, scheduled as part of the talks are discussions surrounding the H-1B visa program, Jaishankar is expected to convey India’s concerns about the proposed clampdowns from the new administration. Additionally, the matter of safety for Indians in the U.S. is expected to be brought up after the fatal shooting of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla.
The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa which allows U.S. companies to hire top talent from other countries to fill skilled-worker positions. For India, the nation which receives the most H-1B visas each year, any amendments to the program could spell disaster for the country’s IT firms. Jaishankar will also hold talks on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
India has in the past raised its concerns with proposed changes to the H-1B program. During a meeting with a delegation from Congress, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the importance of India’s role and how the country’s skilled talent works towards enriching America’s economy.
During his visit, Jaishankar is scheduled to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan, as well as Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. He will also sit for meetings with several chairs of important congressional committees.
