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US biz representatives support L-1 visa plan
URMI A GOSWAMI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 05:21:08 AM ]
NEW DELHI: Representatives of American businesses have come out in
support for the L-1 (intra company transfer) visa programme. At a
recently held senate hearing, representatives of Intel and
Ingersoll-Rand took the opportunity to underline the importance of the
H-1B and L-1 visa programme to the continued growth and dominance of
American companies and economy. (Can USA, Inc. make much of a
difference in resolving the visa controversy?)
Senate judiciary committee however did not react to the advocacy for
continuing with the present L visa programme. The L visa has come
under some attack and several bills have been introduced proposing
changes to the present programme.
Taking the opportunity provided by the Senate Judiciary committee
hearings on H1-B visas, Patrick Duffy, human resources attorney for
Intel Corporation, stressed the importance of the L-1 programme to
meet global competition. Mr Duffy said that Intel uses the L-1 visa
only for employees "who are working on new products where we have
collaborative design efforts."
Dispelling any allegation of wrongdoing Mr Duffy said "Our use of L-1
visas is consistent with the legislative intent of the L-1 program:
Key personnel who are employed by and do work for Intel abroad are
brought to the US for temporary assignment at Intel and only Intel."
He did however, say that "in rare instances that we use L-1 visas to
fill a US-based position, it is usually to transfer a key manager or
executive to the US because our domestic operations or corporate
headquarters require their global experience and knowledge".In his
testimony, Duffy attempted to equate the use of the L-1 visa employees
to the placing of US employees in other countries.
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