International
05 Jun, 2026
There are no visa laws that target India specifically: US official on H1B
Business To Business, New York, 5th June, 2026: Amid concerns among Indian professionals and students in the United States over visa policies, a senior US official has said that American immigration laws are being applied uniformly worldwide and are not specifically targeted at India.
What the US said
Responding to a question about immigration and concerns among Indians holding visas such as the H-1B, Tommy Pigott said:
"When it comes to visas… what we had here for a long time with previous administrations going back was inconsistent application of visa law. That is no longer the case. We are consistently applying visa law across the board. I think that will offer clarity."
Context
Pigott made the remarks during a roundtable organized by the New York Foreign Press Center with a select group of journalists.
His comments come amid continuing concerns among many Indian nationals in the US regarding:
- H-1B work visa renewals.
- Employment-based immigration processes.
- Visa compliance requirements.
- Processing delays and scrutiny of applications.
Significance for Indians
Indians constitute one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders in the United States, particularly in sectors such as:
- Information technology.
- Engineering.
- Healthcare.
- Research and academia.
Because of this, any changes in visa policy or enforcement are closely watched in India and among the Indian diaspora.
US position
The State Department's message appears aimed at emphasizing that:
- Visa rules are being enforced consistently.
- Enforcement is not directed at any particular nationality.
- Applicants should expect a more uniform application of immigration laws regardless of country of origin.
While the remarks may reassure some applicants that India is not being singled out, they also indicate that US authorities intend to maintain stricter and more consistent enforcement of existing visa regulations across all categories and nationalities.