US visa denial to spouses of techies will be a mood dampener: Nasscom

The Dollar Business Bureau

After President Donald Trump-led administration sought 60 days from a US court to consider its response to a case permitting spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the US, Nasscom on Wednesday said a possible implementation of this rule will weaken the enthusiasm of tech professionals to acquire such visas. The IT industry body, however, added that any such decision will have a limited impact on the Indian IT industry.

"In my assessment, it won't affect the industry substantially because tech workers themselves go on H-1B visa. But indirectly, it reduces the keenness or willingness of some individuals to go, as their spouses won't be able to work in the US," Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar said.

"From an industry point of view, it may dampen the enthusiasm of people to go on H-1B visas but it will not have a direct impact," Chandrashekhar said.

Indian IT industry has already been battling currency fluctuation, cautious client spending and slower growth.

Last week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily suspended premium processing of H-1B visas, mostly used by Indian IT firms, which may lead to process delays.

The US accounts for more than 60% of the Indian IT export revenues.

Nasscom recently took an industry delegation to the US to discuss work visas issues, among other things.

The Indian government has also been requesting its US counterpart to adopt a rational stance to enhance bilateral trade and business.

Earlier this week, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Indian government has conveyed its issues at a "very senior level" to the Trump administration. Additionally, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was on a four-day visit to the US to discuss issues related with India's concerns over H-1B visas and the safety of Indians in that country.