Techies may soon be able to get their H-1B visas renewed while still in the United States
3 min read
H-1B visas renewed: The United States plans to resume “domestic visa revalidation” in certain H-1B and L1 visa categories, which could benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers.
Later this year, a pilot version of the exercise will begin, with subsequent expansion over several years.
Until 2004, certain non-immigrant visa categories, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped within the United States. After that, H-1B holders would need to go back to their home country. To get their passports stamped with the H-1B extension.
For all the H-1B visa holders, when their visa is renewed, they need to get their passports stamped with the renewal dates. If they want to leave the United States and come back here, they need to have this. Restamping an H-1B visa within the United States is currently prohibited.
Any US consulate can perform restamping
The much sought-after H-1B visas are issued for three years. Employing foreign workers in specialty occupations. That requires theoretical or technical expertise is made possible by the H-1B visa. Which is a non-immigrant visa.
Technology companies need to hire tens of thousands of workers annually from nations like China and India.
We hope to have a pilot up and running later this year. And we are working diligently on plans to restart this service for certain petition-based NIV categories. According to a spokesperson for the State Department, this would eliminate the need for these applicants to travel abroad to renew their visas.
According to the official, domestic visa revalidation was made easier by the State Department up until 2004. For applicants who were physically present in the United States and were renewing a visa in particular petition-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) categories.
H-1B visas renewed
In response to a question, a spokesperson for the State Department stated, we cannot comment on how many visa holders would be initially eligible. But the pilot would begin with a small number of cases before scaling over the following 1-2 years.
The Biden government has taken several steps over the past few months. To reduce inconveniences and streamline the visa processing system.
Especially noteworthy is the fact that the State Department now appears to have implemented one of the President’s Advisory Commission recommendations on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
The procedure for restamping H1-B and L visas is to visit the home country. And submit their H1 and L1 visas, passports, and documents via dropbox or interview under the current rule, which went into effect in 2004.
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People have to wait months or years for their H1-B visa to be stamped, even if they submit all of their documents. They may not receive a response, leaving them stuck in their home country for more than two years. The presidential commission had argued during one of its meetings last year. That he or she should not return while their family is waiting in the United States.
The Silicon Valley-based commission member Ajay Jain Bhutoria moved the presidential commission to recommend. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allow restamping of H1-B and L visas.
It urged the USCIS to set up a separate department or unit to handle the restamping of H1-B and L visas renewed within the United States.
According to the commission, legal immigrants are invited to work in the United States. Also, supporting American businesses and the economy has found the entire process to be extremely difficult.
