United States targets Indian IT companies, set to reintroduce Rs 1.34 lakh fee for H1B, L1 visas

QUICK PILL

• The bill has been written in such a way that it would impact only Indian companies.

• Indian companies have paid between $70 to 80 million (Rs ​468.8 - 535.8 crore) per annum between 2010 and 2015.

A special $2,000 (Rs ​1.34 lakh) fee could return on H1B and L1 visas for Indian IT companies to fund a 9/11 healthcare act in the US with a group of Congressmen quietly mounting fresh efforts to re-impose it.

Such a move has been made part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which funds health screenings and treatments for 9/11 first responders.

The bill, named after Detective James Zadroga who died of a respiratory illness in 2006, expired on October 1. Lawmakers seek to permanently extend the bill and want to generate necessary funds by imposing a $2,000 (Rs 1.34 lakh) additional fee on H1B visas.

The bill has been written in such a way that it would impact only Indian companies.

According to NASSCOM, Indian companies had paid between $70 to 80 million (Rs ​468.8 - 535.8 crore) per annum between 2010 and 2015.

The "extra fee applies to companies with at least 50% of their employees on H1B visa or L1 visas, and is in addition to the other fees paid by employers," Computerworld reported.

Because of its 50% threshold, it mostly hits the large Indian IT services firms, the leading users of the H1B visa, the report said.

-PTI