IT representatives complain about work of US Embassy

Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) Executive Director Karen Vardanyan announced today that employees of Armenian IT companies couldn’t get US visas recently “due to subjective decisions of the Embassy employees, which harms regular work and development of the companies”.

He made this statement at the press conference that was also attended by Armenian-Canadian Macadamian CEO Sophie Mehrabyan and gg Co-Founder and Director Artashes Tovmasyan.

The companies’ directors confirmed that USA Embassy denies visas to their employees in recent times.

“When you ask what the reason for denial is, you’re usually advised to apply, for example, for a work visa, which is a very expensive and long process. Besides, people don’t go there to work, but for example, to organize cooperation or participate in an event. Furthermore, work visa poses a danger of emigration as you allow the person to leave the country,” noted Karen Vardanyan.

According to him, UITE had a number of meetings with US Ambassador and consulate representatives, where mechanisms of resolving the situation were suggested, but no positive changes occurred.

“We first offered to create, for example, special conditions for IT industry, a simplified order of getting a visa. Different countries utilize such practice. We also suggested that people from this industry have interview with a person at the Embassy, who specializes in the industry and can make more objective decisions,” observed Karen Vardanyan.

He emphasized that this situation damages IT industry that’s declared Armenian economy’s top direction. Furthermore, around 70% of this industry’s product is exported to USA.

Touching upon IT specialists’ emigration from the country, Karen Vardanyan noticed:

“Emigration rates in this industry are the lowest in comparison to other spheres. The index was 9% in 2009, and only 3% according to last year’s research. Think what insignificant part of that 3% illegal emigration makes. People in this industry usually have high salaries and want to live in Armenia,” concluded UITE Executive Director.