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Cut in H1B visas unlikely: US Consul General

V Gangadharan

First Published : 13 Nov 2008 04:59:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 13 Nov 2008 07:47:44 AM IST

ISTCHENNAI: Will there be any ‘protectionist’ measure like a cut in the quota of H1B visas in the near future because of the economic meltdown and ‘electoral change’ in America? ‘Not likely,’ was the reply of US Consul General in Chennai, Andrew T Simkin.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, after participating in a meet on the Indo-US relations in the post US Election Scenario, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here on Wednesday, the US diplomat said there had always been a clamour for more number of H1B visas from many quarters.

When asked if the recent developments in the US could warrant any ‘radical shift’ in visa norms, especially for more popular visa-type like the H1B, the Consul General said such a thing was remote and unlikely. ‘It is a serious thing requiring legal amendments and I do not think this could be a priority,’ he said.

“The one thing that we accord top priority at the consulate here is that only the right person goes to the US on our visas,â€