Department of State Announces Domestic H-1B Visa Renewal Pilot Program
The Department of State (DOS) has announced a pilot program for the renewal of eligible H-1B nonimmigrant visas issued by Mission Canada or Mission India from within the U.S.
In 2004, domestic renewal of non-diplomatic nonimmigrant visas was discontinued due to various reasons, including the inability to collect fingerprints within the United States. As a result, foreign nationals who had been issued visas and who were residing in the U.S. were required to apply for new visas at U.S. consulates in their home countries or at a U.S. consulate in Canada or Mexico in order to renew their visas.
The DOS pilot program now aims to test the ability of DOS to resume domestic visa renewals for specific nonimmigrant classifications in order to potentially reduce worldwide visa wait times at U.S. consulates overseas. However, the pilot program limits the number of eligible participants, and requires satisfaction of a number of criteria.
The DOS announcement provides complete instructions regarding the program, and applicants must first complete an on-line pre-screening tool in order to confirm eligibility. For more detailed information, please refer to the DOS announcement.
If you have any questions or require legal assistance related to H-1B visa matters, please do not hesitate to contact your Maggio Kattar attorney. We are here to provide guidance and support as needed.