India has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the United States' decision to hike fees for temporary working visas. India said the move makes its IT companies less competitive in the US market, reported PTI. The WTO confirmed it had received the complaint from India regarding the L-1 and H-1B categories of non-immigrant temporary working visas for the US. The statement said that, according to India, the US' measure "appears to be inconsistent" with global norms.

India has asked for consultations with the US under the aegis of the WTO to resolve the issue. In December last year, the US Congress doubled the fee for the H-1B and L-1 work visas. The H-1B visas will cost $4,000, up from $2,000, while L-1 will cost $4,500. Companies having more than 50 employees and more than 50% of their US employees on H-1B and L-1 visas would have to pay the new fees when the next visa application session kicks off on April 1.