India’s moving WTO on H1-B visa fee hike logical: Cisco’s Chambers

Backing India's decision to move WTO on the visa issue, US-based tech giant Cisco Chairman John Chambers on Friday said elections are an "emotional" time for the US and stressed that one will also have to be "little patient" on resolution of these issues.

"... when people talk about job loss or global trade agreements or H1-B immigration issues, it's an emotional time in an election year. So, I very much understand. I think it's a logical move by India to bring this to the WTO and say how do you address that," Chambers told reporters here. Earlier this month, India filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the US decision to impose high fees on temporary work visas, a move that makes Indian IT companies less competitive in that market. Chambers, who is also the Chairman of US-India Business Council, said the relationship between the two countries remains strong.

"Just like an election year in your country, you will have to be a little more patience with us... Over time, I am a huge believer in immigration, I am a huge believer of bringing in talent from around the world," he said. India had notified the WTO that "it has initiated a WTO dispute proceeding against the US regarding measures imposing increased fees on certain applicants for L-1 and H-1B categories of non-immigrant temporary working visas into the US, and measures relating to numerical commitments for H-1B visas".

India has time and again raised serious concerns over the issue saying the move would impact Indian IT professionals. The world's largest democracy has asked for consultations with the US under the aegis of the WTO to resolve the issue. In 2010 also, India had serious objections over the US move to hike professional visa fees.