No change in visa policy on Modi: US
Washington: There is no change in the US visa policy with respect to BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Obama administration said on Tuesday.
“I would just note that there has been no change in US rules or regulations, with respect to its visa policy. That is that all individuals apply and have to undergo a review process,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, said at a news conference.
“There’s no change in policy there. It is as it has always been, which is that visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” she added.
When pressed further, Biswal said her understanding is that the US has diplomatic visas, A1 visas, for government officials who are on official business, who are members of the national government, and all other individuals, the normal process is a tourist visa, and that goes through the individual application process.
“And so depending on the official and the capacity in which they’re visiting, the determination is made on what kind of visa they’re applying for,” she said.
Biswal noted that in India, the world’s largest democracy, voters have demonstrated time again, robust and resilient democracy.
“So, we look forward to the Indian elections and we look forward to watching that process unfold,” she said.
“We’ve also worked closely with India to learn some of the lessons of its democratic process and its election process, to see how particularly the technical capabilities that India has built up can benefit other countries as well,” Biswal said.
“The United States looks forward to working in close partnership with India with whatever the outcome of that election process will be in terms of the next government that comes into place,” she added, while responding to a question.
