The US announced the commencement of a pilot programme to allow qualified nonimmigrant workers to renew their H-1B visas domestically.
The facility is to be offered to 20,000 H-1B visa holders in the initial phase.
The programme offers H-1B visa holders, including Indian nationals, to renew their visas without the need to leave the United States, marking a significant shift in policy after nearly two decades.
US to commence H-1B visa online filing for FY25 from February
The US Department of State announced the initiation of a pilot programme for in-country renewal of certain petition-based temporary work visas, including the H-1B, in June 2023.
The pilot programme will accept 20,000 participants over the next five weeks, divided equally between workers who recently received their H-1B visas at consulates in India and Canada.
The State Department released a website ahead of the pilot’s launch, enabling visa holders to confirm their eligibility.
While applicants were able to fill out visa application forms on the agency’s website last week, submissions began on Monday.
The pilot programme, initially limited to H-1B workers meeting specified criteria outlined in December, excludes dependent visa holders like spouses and children on H-4 visas.
The Department of State has indicated that the initial launch of the stateside visa renewal process is a limited pilot programme aimed at testing its operationality. If successful, there is a strong desire to expand the programme’s eligibility to other visa categories and individuals, reflecting a potential shift in the broader landscape of visa renewal procedures in the United States.
