Qualified Indians always welcome, says US diplomat over visa doubts

MUMBAI: As the Trump administration continues to tighten screws on H-1B visa programme, United States Consul General in Mumbai, Edgard Kagan, said his country encourages and welcomes “qualified Indians”.

US President Donald Trump is “very committed” to relations with India, he added. “The US continues to be as welcoming as it has always been to qualified Indian travellers,” Kagan said, adding a record number of Indians flying to the US last year proves people in India are aware that his country welcomes them.

“We strongly encourage and welcome Indians to study in the US. We believe that Indians studying in the US and our students studying in India are part of the glue that holds our relationship together,” he told the media.

“If you look carefully you can see that from the very beginning of his (Trump’s) administration, his time in office, the President and his team have emphasised the need to expand and strengthen the already good relations with India,” Kagan said.

“I think part of this is making sure we continue to grow trade in a way that is fair and balanced on both sides, part of it is making sure that both the countries continue to support investment.

“We welcome and are thrilled with the amount of Indian investments that are coming to the US.”

He said the US wants to get the right policy framework favouring investments in both the countries and make sure that ties between people remain strong.

On areas in which the US and India could further strengthen ties, Kagan said, “Having more travel, having more people know each other, expanding study, expanding partnerships in educational institutions, partnerships between businesses.”