H-1B visas: Indian cos' share is 11.9%

Indian employers account for just 11.9 per cent of the total H-1B visas issued in 2008 and their share has been declining over the years, a US think-tank has said days after new curbs were announced on such visas.

H-1B visas are temporary visas that allow foreign nationals to work in the United States on short-term projects or as a prelude to a green card, which entitles resident status to a foreigner.

"Though there is a prevalent assertion that Indian employers use up 'most' or '80 per cent' of the annual quota (of H-1Bs), USCIS data reveal that such companies utilised only 11.9 per cent of the 2008 new H-1B petitions issued," the National Foundation for American Policy said in a report.

An analysis of H1-B visa data provided by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that the use of H-1Bs by Indian companies declined by 27 per cent from 2006 to 2008, the report added.

"The 12,180 new H-1B visa holders hired by Indian companies in 2008 represented 0.0083 percent of the US labour force, less than 1/100th of 1 per cent, a small proportion by any reasonable definition," NFAP added.