Indians get most L1, H1-B visas

The US Mission in India issued almost two-thirds of all H1-B visas that were given worldwide in 2005, according to data from public affairs office, US Consulate General in Kolkata.

The four visa processing posts in India (Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata) together accounted for 33.4 per cent of the worldwide processing of H1-B visas for temporary workers in financial year 2004-5, the data said.

According to the Congressional Research Service Report of January 2006, almost two-thirds of the 1,22,981 intra-company transfer visas (L) were issued to Indians in fiscal year 2004-5.

Great Britain, including Northern Ireland, and Japan followed with 10.5 per cent 9.8 per cent, respectively, of the L visas issued.

The US Mission in India issued 3 per cent more non-immigrant visas in fiscal 2004-5 than in 2003-4 (313,815 versus 304,734), and is running ahead of the 2005 totals till now in 2006 by nine per cent, the data showed.

For the fourth straight year in 2005, more students from India were studying in the US than in any other country, including China, with over 80,000 young Indians going for US colleges and universities, the data said.