India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday urged the United States to ease visa restrictions for Indians, raising concerns over delays and procedural hurdles during talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi.
The meeting took place at Hyderabad House ahead of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in Delhi, with India, the US, Japan and Australia set to participate. The two sides discussed bilateral ties, trade and visa processes, and later addressed the media.
Jaishankar said people-to-people ties are central to India–US relations and called for simpler visa procedures to enable smoother travel. He said the issue of delays and difficulties in visa issuance was conveyed to Rubio, who assured that steps would be taken.
He also cautioned that if Washington pursues foreign policy with an “America First” approach, India’s stance would likewise be guided by “India First,” stressing that both countries act in line with their national interests. India, he added, would fully cooperate with efforts to curb illegal immigration, but new immigration policies and tighter visa rules should not harm qualified Indians.
Rubio said Indians’ contribution to the US economy cannot be ignored, noting that Indians have invested more than ₹1.70 lakh crore in the country. He attributed visa delays to immigration reforms aimed at addressing illegal entries, and said the new policy is driven by US national interest and not targeted at Indians, adding that those seeking to come legally are welcome.
