During the visit of US President Barrack Obama to India for the Republic Day celebrations, the Indian IT industry is planning to seek clarity from the US Administration on its visa rules and raise non-conclusion of the long pending totalisation agreement.
The totalisation agreement will allow the Indian workers in the US to bring back contributions they make to the social security system on their return to India. Temporary IT workers working in US have to pay annually as much as $1 billion towards social security but don’t stay long enough to get the benefits.
The US at present has totalisation agreement with 25 countries.
Nasscom will also take up the issues pertaining to immigration reform and seek greater clarity on L-1 visa guidance. L-1 visas are issued for intra-company transfers. For instance, when a person moves from India to the company's office in the US, he will be on an L-1 visa. But if the same executive is going to the US for working at a client site, then he will be issued an H-1 visa.
Obama's executive action on immigration reform in November had eased rules for H-1B visas, but the guidance on L-1 for managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge category workers, is still pending.
Obama’s visit to India shows that both the country’s can work hand in hand. Indian startups can also collaborate with the US and the government's emphasis on Digital India and Make in India initiatives is a chance for greater participation from American companies in India.
