<p>"The visa issue is not something new and is just the old story being repeated. There are interpretational issues. There is a need for comprehensive reforms (in visa norms), something which President (Barack) Obama has also highlighted," Nasscom President Som Mittal told PTI.<br /><br />Nasscom is deeply engaged in discussions with authorities to sort out such issues, he added.<br /><br />Infosys, the country's second largest software exporter, has been in news on allegations of visa misuse.<br /><br />After a lawsuit by a former employee, two more Infosys managers are believed to have submitted internal whistle-blower reports pointing to Indians on business visitor visas (B1) who were performing longer-term work not authorised under those visas.<br /><br />B-1 visas are granted to business visitors coming to the US for short stays to attend meetings, conferences or training sessions, or to install specialised equipment.<br /><br />H-1B visa, on the other hand, is a non-immigrant visa, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.<br /><br />"There are issues at two levels -- policy and operational. We hope these get sorted out soon," Mittal said.<br /><br />Asked if these were impacting the reputation of the Indian IT industry, Mittal said, "This creates uncertainty and that impacts the industry."<br /><br />Agrees N Chandrasekaran, Managing Director and CEO of TCS."The visa issue is not something new; the rejection rate has been running high for almost all through the last several months so it's something that we are trying to grapple with," Chandrasekaran told a news channel.<br /><br />He added that Nasscom and individual companies have been in talks with the consulates.<br />"Nasscom and the individual companies or talking to the consulates to come to a common understanding and interpretation so that this can be put behind but having said that the overall environment looks good," Chandrasekaran said.<br /><br />The pressure seems to be mounting for the Indian IT firms as a US senator has written to the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security, requesting that their respective departments review the B-1 business visa programme and investigate the manner in which it is being utilised by companies, including Infosys.<br /><br />Even analysts like CLSA have raised concerns saying visa worries can impact margins.<br />Despite the uncertainty, the industry remains confident. "The order pipeline looks good and so, we are not reviewing our projection of a 16-18 per cent annual growth this year," Mittal said.</p>
<p>"The visa issue is not something new and is just the old story being repeated. There are interpretational issues. There is a need for comprehensive reforms (in visa norms), something which President (Barack) Obama has also highlighted," Nasscom President Som Mittal told PTI.<br /><br />Nasscom is deeply engaged in discussions with authorities to sort out such issues, he added.<br /><br />Infosys, the country's second largest software exporter, has been in news on allegations of visa misuse.<br /><br />After a lawsuit by a former employee, two more Infosys managers are believed to have submitted internal whistle-blower reports pointing to Indians on business visitor visas (B1) who were performing longer-term work not authorised under those visas.<br /><br />B-1 visas are granted to business visitors coming to the US for short stays to attend meetings, conferences or training sessions, or to install specialised equipment.<br /><br />H-1B visa, on the other hand, is a non-immigrant visa, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.<br /><br />"There are issues at two levels -- policy and operational. We hope these get sorted out soon," Mittal said.<br /><br />Asked if these were impacting the reputation of the Indian IT industry, Mittal said, "This creates uncertainty and that impacts the industry."<br /><br />Agrees N Chandrasekaran, Managing Director and CEO of TCS."The visa issue is not something new; the rejection rate has been running high for almost all through the last several months so it's something that we are trying to grapple with," Chandrasekaran told a news channel.<br /><br />He added that Nasscom and individual companies have been in talks with the consulates.<br />"Nasscom and the individual companies or talking to the consulates to come to a common understanding and interpretation so that this can be put behind but having said that the overall environment looks good," Chandrasekaran said.<br /><br />The pressure seems to be mounting for the Indian IT firms as a US senator has written to the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security, requesting that their respective departments review the B-1 business visa programme and investigate the manner in which it is being utilised by companies, including Infosys.<br /><br />Even analysts like CLSA have raised concerns saying visa worries can impact margins.<br />Despite the uncertainty, the industry remains confident. "The order pipeline looks good and so, we are not reviewing our projection of a 16-18 per cent annual growth this year," Mittal said.</p>