Extreme backlog for Indian nationals in many visa categories
AB Wire
Indian American groups have demanded for a campaign on immigration related issues that are affecting the Indian community.
This demand was raised during a seminar organized by Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-New York), South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), and the Kerala Centre in Elmont, New York, recently.
Excessive use of H1-B visa by Indian technology companies has made it difficult for individuals to get visa, the seminar noted. The seminar also insisted on the importance of supporting Barack Obama’s executive actions designed to improve the immigration system.
Extreme backlog for Indian nationals in many visa categories has resulted in families being separated for a long period, which is against the principles of the US immigration law.
The seminar noted that many agencies continued to heavily scrutinize H1-B non-professional and specialty occupation work visas. India’s exclusion from treaty investment and treaty trader category for immigration visa purpose was also discussed at the event.
Another issue raised at the seminar was on why India doesn’t have an E-visa facility when even countries like Srilanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan have it. The participants arrived at a conclusion that grassroots efforts should be made to resolve these issues and the community groups must campaign on these issues.
“It is important for the Indian American community to take up such issues with Obama administration and elected official and make them aware of importance of such issues for the country as a whole”, Thomas Abraham, the founder president of GOPIO was quoted by IANS as saying.