Great news ahead as the US declares new visa changes for H1-B Holders

The United States intends to restart its domestic visa revalidation process, which will benefit thousands of foreign tech workers, particularly those from India. It will be a pilot program that will only apply to certain visa holders, such as L1 and H-1B, and will be implemented later this year. When fully implemented, this pilot project will help professionals get their stamping done in the US.

In an era when the waiting time for a US visa application can be as long as 800 days in some places, this new initiative is a welcome relief, particularly for H1-B holders. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs that require theoretical or technical knowledge.

H1-B Holders Get Relief

Until 2004, certain non-immigrant visa categories, most notably the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped within the United States. Following that, in order to renew these visas, particularly those on H-1B, foreign tech workers must travel outside of the country, primarily to their home country, to have the H-1B extension stamped on their passports.

This may change as a result of the pilot process.

This would eliminate the need for these applicants to travel abroad to renew their visas, according to a State Department spokesperson, according to PTI.

Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide for US Visa Applicants from India

The purpose behind this

According to the official, the State Department facilitated domestic visa revalidation for applicants who were physically present in the United States and renewed a visa in certain petition-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) categories until 2004.

“We could not say how numerous visa holders would be eligible at first, but the airman would start with a  sprinkle of cases before ramping up over the coming 1- 2 times,” the State Department said.

Criteria for renewal

All H-1B visa holders must obtain passport stamps with renewal dates when renewing their visas. This requirement is necessary if they plan to travel outside of the United States and then return. Currently, H-1B visa restamping is not permitted within the United States. Restamping is only possible at any US consulate. You can visit Flyopedia.ca for your next adventure trip from Canada to India.

The coveted H-1B visas are granted for three years at a time. Technology firms use it every year to hire tens of thousands of staff from nations like India and China.

Important note regarding H1-B holders

People must wait months or years for H1-B visa stamping, or they may receive no response after submitting all documents and become stranded in their home country for more than two years. The presidential commission argued in one of its meetings last year that their families in the United States are waiting for him/her to return.

Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a commission member from Silicon Valley, persuaded the presidential commission to recommend that H1-B and L visas be allowed for restamping in the United States by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It urged USCIS to develop a different department or unit to handle the restamping of revitalized H1-B and L visas within the United States.

Also read: US Embassy launches new regulations to Reduce US Visa Time for Indians