US official representatives address industry concerns over proposed visa changes

Senator Deb Peters from South Dakota Senate and State Representative Helene M Keeley, House of Representatives from 3rd District D-Wilmington South, met industry representatives in India to address concerns about the proposed Visa changes floated by the Donald Trump administration. 

Ms Peters pointed out that visa changes are still in the ‘proposed’ stage and efforts are underway to ascertain the implication on these changes in the economy. “States like South Dakota and Delaware are working with our Congressional delegation to talk to them about the implications of the proposed changes and what it will do to our economies.

In South Dakota specifically, we have an unemployment rate of less than 1.8% and the only way we can do to expand on economic development or businesses is by bringing people in to expand the businesses. The proposed changes the current administration is making are going to make it very difficult for expansion of workforce. We are working through that system to ensure these changes are implemented without inhibiting economic development and workforce development,” added the senator.

State Representative Helene M Keeley stated that the visa proposals by the Trump administration will be substantially changed, before it goes through. “At the next summit of National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in August, Deb and I could have an opportunity to explain to the Executive Committee about the visit we have had here and NCSL has the option to put forward a resolution that could be sent to the federal government,” said Keeley, who along with Peters, had met industry representatives in Delhi, Lucknow and Chennai. In the city, the duo met members of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce on May 19.

Another concern raised by the industry was on the issue of taxation. Peters said, “India is struggling with Goods and Services Tax (GST) and trying to figure out how it works. The US is also going through similar discussions, not necessarily GST but we are going through one of our first major tax reforms since 1986. So, there are some similarities. Some of the questions posed by the industry revolved around the Foreign Assets Tax and other issues. The US and India are in the same point when it comes to taxation,” she concluded.