Indian citizens received more than 72% of all H1B visas issued since October 2022-September 2023: Government

Indian citizens received 72.3% of all H1B visas issued by the US for the October 2022 to September 2023. Photo credit: Getty images

Indian nationals received 72.3% of all H1B visas issued by the US. The citizenship and immigration services of the United States.

The Government also told the Upper House that there were 21,928 Indian students before the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, but as on November 1, 2024, only 1,802 students were enrolled in several Ukrainian universities.

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a consultation in Rajya Sabha, said that the government of India is “closely committed to the administration of the United States” and other interested parties on all the issues related to the Visa H1B program through relevant bilateral dialogue mechanisms.

The Ministry of External Affairs was asked if these are conversations with the United States government with respect to the possible restrictions to the Visa H1B program, and if so, the details and the steps taken in this regard.

“The mobility of qualified Indian professionals has contributed to the mutual benefit of India and the United States of America, especially in the sectors of technology and innovation. 72.3% of all H1B visas issued,” he said.

In a separate consultation, the Ministry was asked the number of Indian migrants who have returned in the last five years due to economic recessions abroad and the reasons for the loss of employment or economic instability in the host nations. And, whether programs or policies have been implemented to support the reintegration of returned Indian migrants.

“The data on the number of Indians who returned to India due to economic recessions abroad, loss of employment or economic instability are not available,” said Singh.

The responsibility for the reintegration of returned Indian migrants rests with state governments, where emigrants belong. Several state governments have developed ways and means to reintegrate workers from abroad, he said.

The Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, in a separate consultation, asked the total number of Indian students affected by ongoing conflicts in Israel, Palestine and Ukraine to date.

In his written response, the EAM shared some data about students.

“There were 21,928 Indian students before the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. However, such as November 1, 2024, only 1802 students were enrolled in several Ukrainian universities,” Jaishankar said in his response.

There are about 900 Indian students in Israel, who are mostly enrolled in doctorate or postdoctoral studies in Stem Campos, he said.

After the attacks of October 7, 2023 in Israel, the government of India launched ‘Ajay Operation’ to facilitate the safe return of Indian citizens under which 1309 Indians returned to India. This included 768 Indian students. Since then, almost all Indian students who had returned to India under ‘Operation Ajay’ have arrived in Israel, to resume their research or studies at Israeli universities, he added.

There is no Indian student in Palestine, said the EAM.

Mr. Jaishankar was also asked about Israel and Hamas reaching a high fire agreement to end the ongoing conflict in the region.

“On January 15, 2025, an agreement was announced for the release of hostages and the high fire in Gaza. The people of Gaza.

“We also reiterate our call to the liberation of all hostages, fire and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy,” he said in his response.