12-25-2010, 11:07 AM
[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/IT-industry-cries-foul-over-latest-US-visa-fee-increase/H1-Article1-642471.aspx"]IT industry cries foul over latest US visa fee increase[/url]
Quote:The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, passed by the US Congress late on Wednesday, aims to raise $4.3 billion over the next five years by taxing goods and services sourced from countries like India, China and Thailand.
"The move is inconsistent with the statements exchanged during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India," Wipro executive vice-president Suresh Senapathy said.
The visa fee on Indian techies was hiked earlier in August to fund border security. The new healthcare law seeks to meet the treatment costs for people who fell ill while clearing the World Trade Centre debris at Ground Zero in New York.
"As long as unemployment is high, there will be pressure on politicians and government to do something. Unfortunately, their focus is on immigrants," Gopalakrishnan said.
"The consolation is the new Act will be applicable for five years (till 2015) as against the 10-year timeframe stipulated in the bill," Senapathy said.