RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3693
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2019
REJECTION OF H-1B VISA FOR INDIAN SOFTWARE COMPANIES
3693. SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of H-1B visas issued by US for software companies in India during 2018-19;
(b) the details of visa issued for the Indian software companies and foreign software companies operating from India;
(c) whether it is a fact that there were more rejections of H-1B visa for the Indian software companies in comparision to foreign companies operating in India; and
(d) if so, the manner in which Government proposes to meet the situation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) According to U.S. official data, the total number of H-1B visas issued to Indian nationals in U.S. Fiscal Year 2018 is 125,528; the total number of these visas issued to software companies in India is not separately available.
(b) & (c) The top 30 companies accounting for 24.34% of all H-1B visas issued in U.S. Fiscal Year 2018 include 8 Indian IT companies and 8 foreign IT companies that also operate in India. The detailed official data on approval and denial of H-1B visa in respect
of these companies for U.S. Fiscal Year 2018 are given below:
|
H-1B Approval and Denial data for eight (in Top 30) Indian IT companies
|
|
Company
|
Approvals for Initial Employment
|
Denials for Initial Employment
|
Approvals for Continuing Employment
|
Denials for Continuing Employment
|
Total Approvals
|
Approval Percentage
|
|
TCS
|
528
|
152
|
8,232
|
1,744
|
8,760
|
82%
|
|
Infosys
|
69
|
80
|
5,897
|
2,042
|
5,966
|
74%
|
|
Wipro
|
273
|
82
|
2,877
|
599
|
3,150
|
82%
|
|
HCL
|
196
|
100
|
2,105
|
509
|
2,301
|
79%
|
|
Tech Mahindra
|
579
|
201
|
1,781
|
300
|
2,360
|
82%
|
|
L&T Infotech
|
154
|
43
|
1,285
|
171
|
1,439
|
87%
|
|
L&T Tech services
|
253
|
50
|
906
|
102
|
1,159
|
88%
|
|
Mindtree
|
148
|
98
|
762
|
89
|
910
|
83%
|
|
H-1B Approval and Denial data for eight (in Top 30) Foreign IT companies operating in India
|
|
Company
|
Approvals for Initial Employment
|
Denials for Initial Employment
|
Approvals for Continuing Employment
|
Denials for Continuing Employment
|
Total Approvals
|
Approval Percentage
|
|
Cognizant
|
500
|
790
|
8,746
|
3,548
|
9,246
|
68%
|
|
Deloitte
|
593
|
295
|
4,193
|
1,281
|
4,786
|
75%
|
|
CapGemini
|
273
|
1,061
|
2,664
|
914
|
2,937
|
60%
|
|
Microsoft
|
1,252
|
13
|
3,200
|
54
|
4,452
|
99%
|
|
Amazon
|
2,399
|
23
|
1,993
|
45
|
4,392
|
98%
|
|
Accenture
|
363
|
160
|
2,656
|
451
|
3,019
|
83%
|
|
Apple
|
698
|
13
|
2,387
|
25
|
3,085
|
99%
|
|
Ernst & Young
|
716
|
93
|
1,760
|
150
|
2,476
|
91%
|
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(d) Government of India has closely consulted all stakeholders and engaged with the U.S. Administration and Congress on issues related to the movement of Indian professionals, including those pertaining to the H-1B programme. Most recently, issues of H-1B visa
were raised during the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo, to India on 26 June 2019. In our engagements, we have emphasized that this has been a mutually-beneficial partnership which should be nurtured. Indian skilled professionals have
contributed to the growth and development of the U.S. economy and have helped the U.S. retain its competitive edge and innovation advantage.
*****