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Will look into concerns on visa fee: US assures India New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) The US today assured that it willlook into concerns related to visa fee hike after India sought"just and non-discriminatory" solution to the issue as well ason the social security pact. The US, however, maintained that the visa fee hike was nottargeted against Indian professionals, and was part of anacross the board policy change. During a joint presser after Indo-US Strategic andCommercial Dialogue, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajsaid she has sought Secretary of State John Kerry’s supportfor resolution of long-pending issues of totalisation and thefee hike for H1B and L1 visa that impact people-to-peopleexchanges, "which is a vital source of strength for ourrelationship". Citing data, US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker saidIndians were major "beneficiaries" as about 69 per cent of USH1B visas and 30 per cent of all L1 visas were issued to themlast year. She was responding to a question on visa at a joint pressconference by Kerry, Swaraj and Commerce Minister NirmalaSitharaman. "Any changes that have been made towards H1B and L1 visaapplications… they are not limited or focused on Indiannationals. They are really across the board change. "But given the concerns expressed by Indian industry, Icommitted to Minister (Nirmala) Sitharaman to look into thisand report back," she said. Sitharaman on her part said the visa issue was raisedduring the 2nd Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue(S&CD) as well as in the CEO Forum. "Secretary Pritzker came forward proactively and spentsome time (with industry representatives) and then she hasoffered that she will look into this matter definitely…,"Sitharaman said. The minister said there was a "feeling" and "impression"that probably the Indian industries are being targeted due toincrease in the US visas fee. Sitharaman further said to dispel the feeling of being"targeted", Pritzker came up voluntarily during the CEOForum meeting and assured to look into the visa issue. "We did raise it (visa issue). We voiced our concerns. Wegave estimates as to what damage it has given to industry,"she added. India has time and again raised the issue of hike in visafees by the US. It has also filed a case in the WTO againstthe US decision to impose high fees on temporary workingvisas. (MORE) PTI RR NKD PYKABK