DOS H1B Visa Renewal Pilot Program (January 29, 2024 to April 1, 2024)
On January 29, 2024, the Department of State will begin a pilot program allowing certain H1B status holders to renew their visa stamp within the US. This will mean that those eligible will not have to travel to a US Consulate outside the US in order to get their visa stamped in their passport. This pilot program is ONLY for H1B status holders who are looking to renew their H1B visas which were issued either by Mission India or Mission Canada between the dates mentioned below. This will not apply to their dependents on H4 status. This pilot program will allow eligible applicants to apply in stages and is limited to 20000 applicants.
Who is eligible to apply under the pilot program?
Participation is voluntary and limited to principal H-1B applicants:
-Who are renewing a prior H-1B visa issued by Mission Canada with an issuance date from January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023, or by Mission India with an issuance date from February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021;
-Who are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance (reciprocity) fee;
-Who are eligible for an in-person interview waiver;
-Who have submitted ten fingerprints to DOS in connection with the prior visa application;
-Whose Prior visa doesn’t include a “clearance received” annotation;
-Who do not have a visa ineligibility that would require a waiver prior to issuance;
-Who have an approved and unexpired H-1B petition, were most recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B status, and are maintaining H-1B status in the United States;
-Whose period of authorized admission in H-1B status has not expired; and
-Who intend to reenter the U.S. in H-1B status after a temporary period abroad.
If you believe you are eligible to renew your visa based on the above requirements and would like to make use of this pilot program, you can go here to complete a SS-160 and follow their instructions. If you would like to avail of our help with this, please contact our office at the earliest.