The Department of State is Set to Begin Pilot Program for Stateside H-1B Visa Renewals This Month
From January 29 to April 1, 2024, the Department of State (DOS) will accept applications for domestic visa stamp renewals for qualified H-1B nonimmigrant visa applicants under a pilot program. The goal of this program is to test whether the DOS has the ability to resume domestic visa stamp renewals to reduce worldwide visa wait times. Currently, a visa stamp can only be issued at a consulate abroad.
Eligibility
The pilot program will only be available to applicants who were previously issued H-1B visas at the consulates in Canada (with an issuance date of January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023) or the consulates in India (with an issuance date of February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021). To be eligible, the H-1B applicant has to meet the following requirements:
- Must have an approved and unexpired H-1B petition
- Must have a prior H-1B visa that does not include a “clearance received” annotation
- Must have been most recently admitted into the United States in H-1B status
- Must currently be maintaining H-1B status in the United States and be in an unexpired period of authorized admission
- Must not be subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance fee, known as the “reciprocity fee”
- Must be eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview
- Must have submitted fingerprints to the DOS in connection with a prior visa application
- Must not require a waiver of visa ineligibility prior to visa issuance
- Must intent to reenter the United States in H-1B status
The pilot program will not be available to other visa applicants at this time, including H-4 dependents.
Application
The DOS will accept online applications here. It will release approximately 4,000 applications slots a week starting on January 29, with the slots being split evenly between applicants whose most recent H-1B visa was issued at a consulate in Canada and those whose most recent H-1B visa was issued at a consulate in India. The online portal will lock once the maximum limit is reached. It will then reopen again the following week, with the last application period beginning February 26.
In the online portal, applicants will have to complete an assessment of eligibility and, if eligible, a Form DS-160. They will then receive instructions on how to pay the application processing fee and where to send the required documents from processing, which will include their valid passport, one passport-style photo, and the applicant’s Form I-94.
Processing times are expected to be approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks, with no expedites available.
If you have any questions or would like assistance with the pilot program application process, please reach out to our Immigration Team.