Streamlined Visa Processes to Boost Business and Professional Travel Between the US and India

In a significant development for business and professional travelers, the United States is set to implement a faster visa approval system, expected to take effect from April. The announcement was made during the US-India Trade Policy Forum meeting held in New Delhi last Friday, led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Ambassador Katharina Tai.

During the meeting, Goyal emphasized the need to expedite the processing of E-1 and E-2 visas, commonly sought by businessmen involved in import-export and those working in the US on an investment basis, respectively. Goyal stated, “It takes a lot of time to get E-1 and E-2 visas, a demand to reduce the time was put before America.”

According to Goyal, the revised visa procedures will come into effect in April, resulting in a quicker turnaround time for visa applications. This change is anticipated to ease the challenges faced by professionals seeking these specific visas. He also addressed a longstanding concern regarding the visa renewal process for families of H1B visa professionals working in the US.

Goyal mentioned that while H1B visa professionals will no longer need to return to India for visa renewal, their families had not been granted the same convenience. India had formally requested the extension of this facility to the families of H1B visa holders, and Goyal revealed that the US has provided a positive assurance regarding this demand.

The streamlined visa processes will particularly benefit businessmen involved in import-export activities, as they commonly require E-1 visas. Similarly, individuals engaged in investment activities in the US, who apply for E-2 visas, will also experience a reduction in the visa application processing time. Currently, obtaining these visas involves a lengthy process that can span several months.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal highlighted the discussions that took place during the forum meeting, emphasizing the mutual interest in increasing participation in government procurement between the two countries. Barthwal stated, “In the forum meeting, increasing each other’s participation in government procurement of both the countries was seriously discussed.”

He further elaborated on the potential benefits of enhancing India’s involvement in US government procurement, noting that it could significantly boost Indian exports. However, Barthwal also emphasized the need for reciprocity, indicating that the US would need to provide opportunities for Indian businesses in its government procurement processes.

The move to expedite visa processes aligns with the broader goal of fostering stronger economic ties and facilitating smoother business interactions between the US and India. The positive assurance from the US government regarding the extension of visa renewal facilities to the families of H1B visa professionals is a noteworthy step toward addressing concerns within the Indian professional community working in the US.

As the implementation of these changes is expected to begin in April, businesses and professionals can anticipate a more efficient and streamlined visa application process, ultimately promoting increased collaboration and economic exchanges between the two nations.

Rishi Sunak May Exit Human Rights Treaty To Push Immigration Plan

The UK has been warned that 65,000 illegal migrants are expected to enter the country this year. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may withdraw from an international human rights treaty with an aim to crack down on illegal immigration in the country. The UK PM is prepared to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to curb migrant arrivals, the Sunday Times reported.

The UK has been warned that 65,000 illegal migrants are expected to enter the country this year. According to these estimates, illegal immigration in the UK will rise by 50 per cent this year.

Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman have started working on a new immigration legislation after the warning. The new laws could be unveiled within weeks, Bloomberg reported.

The pair are also prepared to withdraw from the ECHR before the general election if judges in Strasbourg rule that the new plans are unlawful, the Times report said.

A threat to withdraw from the ECHR would draw a sharp dividing line between Sunak’s Conservatives and the opposition Labour party — underlining the prime minister’s hardline stance on immigration.

Before being elected as the Prime Minister in October last year, Rishi Sunak had vowed to fix the “broken” asylum systems in the UK and stop the illegal boat crossings from France.

He had also announced a five-step strategy to clamp down on illegal immigration, with a promise to end the government’s backlog of asylum applications by the end of next year.

“House Of Spices” Set To Expand In The Us With 2nd Generation Family Owners Share New Vision For The U.S. Market

House of Spices, the oldest South Asian food company in the USA and is widely known by its brand “Laxmi,” has evolved over the years as a business leader in the South Asian food space with multiple leading South Asian food brands under its umbrella offering condiments, pantry items, snacks, candy, spices and frozen foods representing all regions of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Born out of the absolute need of a young family to be able to enjoy cuisines from their homeland while being away from home, it was founded in 1972 by Indian Immigrant G.L Soni who longed to enjoy authentic cuisine from India. As a South Asian immigrant couple living in New York, the Sonis, particularly Mrs. Shobhana Soni, faced challenges daily to find Indian ingredients for home cooking. This inspired Mr. Soni to start importing Indian cooking ingredients and founding the ‘LAXMI’ brand. Mr. Soni fittingly named it Laxmi in honor of his parents, Mr. Laxmidas and Mrs. Laxmibai. Also, since Goddess Laxmi embodies abundance, the name perfectly fit the company’s vision of providing authentic cooking ingredients in abundance to South Asian families living in the USA and helping them stay connected with their cultures through food.

Today, 48 years later the next generation of the family carries the torch and enhanced vision into the expanding marketplace. The children of the founder, Neil & Amarpali Soni have taken over the company with their sights set on aggressive business expansion, new branding, marketing and distribution, while maintaining the family and company values.

The South Asian Market is the fastest growing population in the U.S. since 2000 with a total population of 6 million and growing – a 81% growth over the last 10 years! Furthermore, the Asian Indians have a combined disposable income of $88 billion and an estimated annual buying power of $20 billion and these numbers are growing.  The brother and sister duo know that the time is now to leverage this strong growth of the South Asian segment and do so by delivering authentic ethnic South Asian cuisines and ingredients. They strive hard to ensure that every item with their brand name is delivered with purity, quality and value.

The recent rebrand of their logo also demonstrates an effort from the young leaders of the company, to be more inclusive towards the overall South Asian diaspora and representative of the hospitality and abundance that are trademarks of their culture. The new Laxmi logo is contemporary, universal and visually appealing and the icon represents a modernized red and gold Lotus with auspicious royal overtones. But despite the changes and the new vision of the co-presidents, the signature product line encompassing the ‘Laxmi’ Brand stays true to its authentic Indian roots providing the community a way to stay connected to their culture and cuisine. With aspirations to take their product line to the mainstream market, House of Spices is poised to bring the Indian grocery store items into our neighborhood big box grocery retailers and give a new spin to cooking with healthy, authentic and fresh Indian ingredients.

Air India To Begin Flights From Bengaluru To San Francisco Starting Jan 2021

India’s national carrier Air India is set to connect Bengaluru and San Francisco via a non-stop flight from 2021, the Kempegowda International Airport. As of January 11, 2021, Air India will launch 2x weekly flights between Bangalore and San Francisco, as follows: AI175 Bangalore to San Francisco departing 2:30PM arriving 5:00PM
AI176 San Francisco to Bangalore departing 8:30PM arriving 2:30AM (+2 days)

The US-bound flight will operate Mondays and Thursdays and will take 16hr, while the India-bound flight will operate Tuesdays and Saturdays and will take 16hr30min. The Boeing 777-200LR that will be used for this route features three cabins, including first class, business class, and economy.

“This would be the first non-stop flight between Bengaluru and the United States, connecting the world’s two tech hubs — the original Silicon Valley and the Silicon Valley of India.

“The first non-stop flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco is a significant milestone for BLR Airport and will transform it as the new gateway to India. This will tremendously help passengers, enabling faster and easier access to cities on the West Coast of the United States.”

As per the statement, the new non-stop service is expected to meet the demand of corporate customers for travel to San Fracisco and adjoining areas in the US.

“Air India plans to operate a 238-seater Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft, to serve the largest unserved international origin/ destination (O/D) market for BLR Airport. Bengaluru and San Francisco are ranked first and second, respectively, among the world’s top 45 digitally advanced cities.”

“The new route sets two records — it would be Air India’s longest route at 14,000+ km (8,698 miles) and longest flight to and from India (over 16 hours). The national carrier has opened ticket booking from November 25.”

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