New Delhi: India on Friday said it is engaging with the United States to minimise difficulties faced by Indian nationals following new American visa regulations that will limit the duration of stay for foreign students and exchange visitors.
The new rules are expected to affect thousands of Indian students and exchange visitors.
"We've seen reports regarding the visa rules. Visa regulations, visa functions and immigration matters are sovereign functions of any state," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
Responding to a question on the changes announced by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jaiswal said India remains in touch with US authorities whenever genuine travellers or students face difficulties.
"However, as and when issues relating to genuine travellers, students and others are brought to our attention, we take them up with the US side to minimise the difficulties faced by our people," he said.
The new visa regulations for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists effectively end a decades-old policy that allowed such visa holders to remain in the United States for an indefinite period, subject to maintaining their immigration status.
Under the revised rules, the DHS has introduced a fixed period of admission for non-immigrant visa holders in the F, J and I categories.
The F visa category covers international students, J visas are issued to exchange visitors, while I visas are meant for journalists and media professionals.
The new rules also reduce the grace period available to F-1 student visa holders after completing their studies. Instead of the earlier 60-day window to leave the US, transfer to another educational institution or change their immigration status, students will now have only 30 days to do so.