US Must Commit Not To Discriminate Against Indian Firms: Nasscom

New Delhi: Lauding the government's decision to ask the United States to find a just and non-discriminatory solution to the visa issue, software body Nasscom on Wednesday said the US should revisit the decision on visa fee hike and commit against such "discriminatory steps" in future.

"The US should revisit the issue of hike in visa fee, and find appropriate alternatives to fund their (social) objectives. Also, there should be clear commitment against such discriminatory steps in future," Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar told PTI.

Expressing hope that the US would look into the issue of increase in visa fee, which has been doubled for certain categories of H-1B and L1 visas to $4,000 and $4,500 respectively, Mr Chandrashekhar said, "While we understand and are sympathetic to the fact the fee collected will be utilized towards healthcare requirements of the 9/11 victims, the question remains as to why should that cost be imposed on skilled IT workers."

He said the US approach to the issue has been "discriminatory, singling out Indian companies without naming them, for adverse treatment".

Terming the visa issue as "trade issue" and not an immigration issue, Mr Chandrashekhar said, "We are opposed to the approach of looking at provisions or restrictions on a discriminatory basis. It is not conducive to trade relations between the two countries."

The Indian government on Tuesday asked the US to find a "just and non-discriminatory" solution to the issue to avoid any adverse effect on the bilateral trade ties.

India has time and again raised the issue of hike in visa fees by the US, and even filed a case in the WTO against the US decision to impose high fees on temporary working visas.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)