Jaishankar flags US visa troubles, Rubio says 'not targeted at India'

NEW DELHI — In a major diplomatic dialogue aimed at stabilizing bilateral ties, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised deep concerns with visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding escalating visa processing delays and strict immigration curbs impacting Indian travelers and professionals.

During a joint press conference on Sunday, Jaishankar emphasized that talent mobility serves as the bedrock of economic, technological, and research collaboration between the two nations. While acknowledging the need for shared cooperation to curb illegal migration, he firmly noted that legal and legitimate travel should remain unhindered by policy adjustments. The intervention follows a stringent domestic rule update by the US Department of Homeland Security alongside skyrocketing interview wait-times for skilled categories in major metropolitan consulates.

Responding to these pointed concerns, the top US diplomat defended Washington’s recent immigration shift. Rubio asserted that the restructuring is part of a global migration modernization initiative rather than an India-centric restriction. He attributed the hardline policies to an ongoing migratory crisis on America's borders, acknowledging that while the transition has introduced undeniable friction points and disproportionately affected India’s large tech workforce, the destination is a much more efficient framework.

"The modernization of our migration system is not India-specific. It is being applied globally," Rubio stated, praising the immense contributions of Indian professionals who continue to enrich the American economy.

Beyond immigration bottlenecks, the bilateral talks spanned trade, critical technologies, and regional security dynamics in West Asia. Despite recent strategic differences, both ministers underscored the fundamental resilience of the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, reiterating their mutual alignment on major Indo-Pacific challenges.