The US is reportedly slated to launch a pilot programme for the domestic renewal of certain categories of H-1B visas – work visas for emigrants – in December.
This initiative is expected to be particularly beneficial for a significant number of Indian IT professionals.
At present, H-1B visa holders are required to travel to their respective countries to stamp the US visa, after its approval for extension by the US authorities.
The plan for domestic renewal of H-1B visas was initially announced by the Biden administration during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June.
The pilot programme shows efforts to streamline and enhance processes related to H-1B visa renewals for eligible individuals.
H-1B Visa Demand Sparks Concerns
In an interview with PTI, Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, highlighted the high demand for US visas in India.
She expressed concerns about the extended wait times of six, eight, and 12 months, emphasising that such delays are not in line with how the US views its relationship with India.
“We want to make sure that Indian travellers can get appointments as quickly as possible. One way we are doing that is through the domestic visa renewal programme, which is focused very much on India. We are piloting that,” she told PTI.
Over a three-month period starting from December, the State Department is set to issue 20,000 visas to foreign nationals who are already inside the US.
Stufft said there will be a federal register notice, which is the first official notice of this programme, coming out very soon.
The notice will provide comprehensive information, describing all the steps that need to be taken, specifying who is eligible to apply in the first tranche, and providing detailed instructions for the application process.
“The initial phase of the pilot programme will involve processing 20,000 cases in December, January, and February. This represents a starting point, and there are plans to expand the program to include more categories of workers living in the US throughout the rest of 2024,” she said.
The move by the State Department to launch the pilot programme has been described as “significant” by Indian-American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria, who first piloted the proposal on this to the US administration.
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