IndiaPost.com - US visa process to be streamlined further

Hyderabad: Using electronic filing systems and increasing reliance on technology, the US administration expects to further streamline the visa issue process while cutting down on time to issue visas. Special efforts are under way to issue visas to business travellers and students in particular.

The Under Secretary of State for Management, Henrietta H Fore, said the issue of hiking cap on H1-B visas requires approval and hoped that this would sail through. Speaking at a meeting hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Fore said, "We at Washington and the US are keenly watching the Indian growth story and are very interested in its progress.

As a part of our Open and Secure Border Initiative, we expect to partner and strengthen relationships." "The economic relations between India and the US have grown significantly and the annual exports to India have doubled since 2000 and imports are up 75 per cent.

Direct investment has tripled during 2000-06 and we believe increase in investments would be beneficial to both the countries. We are indeed moving forward," she explained. Contrary to general belief that after September 11 visitors to the US were less welcome, she said that this was an outdated impression and the number of visas issued illustrates the growth.

The US State Department has initiated a number of steps, including newly developed electronic passport and smarter screening facility. This is complimented by efforts to build capacity and strengthen the electronic visa system. The Department of Homeland Security is in the process of creating model airports. Last year, some 7 million non-immigrant visas were issued, she said.

In India, offices have achieved measurable success in bringing down wait time for visas, which is down from six months (which was unacceptable) to about six days now, and could be brought down further by use of technology and deployment of additional resources.

Following the US President, George Bush's commitment for Consular Office in Hyderabad, she said her team was working to set up a temporary office by 2008. They expect to create a permanent facility in Hyderabad within three years. Srinivas Rao Peddi, SAP Head, IBM Hyderabad, wanted to know why there was a minimum requirement of one year for L1 visas. He felt that such a condition was creating problems for senior professionals who join the company.