Pilot Program for Domestic Renewal of H-1B Visas
The U.S. State Department has announced a pilot program for domestic renewal of H-1B nonimmigrant visas.
The U.S. State Department announced that from Jan. 29 through April 1, they will run a pilot program, which will allow qualified applicants to apply for a renewal of an H-1B visa within the U.S.
This is an exciting development, although the pilot does have very strict limits on who may apply at this time. If you will be traveling and need a new visa, and you previously obtained your H-1B visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Canada or India during a specific time period, you may be eligible for this Pilot Program.
Most importantly, you must have a prior H–1B visa you are seeking to renew that was issued by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in Canada with an issuance date from January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023; or by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in India with an issuance date of February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021, however, review all of the eligibility criteria carefully to see if you qualify for this new service.
More details, including a navigator to help you determine if you are eligible, can be found on the State Department's website.
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, you cannot use this pilot program and would need to apply for a new visa, if you need one, outside the U.S.
Up to 20,000 H-1B visas will be issued during this Pilot Program. Please note that H-4 family members are not eligible for the pilot program. The process is expected to take about two months, although it may take longer, and there is no option for expediting the application or obtaining updates about the process, so you should consider the timing if you decide to use this process and have firm travel dates.