U.S. Launches Pilot Program for Domestic Visa Renewal for H1-B Holders

Nitin

Nov 30 2023

<div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><p class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow: visible; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: " segoe="" ui",="" "segoe="" ui="" web",="" arial,="" verdana,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" 12px;"=""><p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">  <p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"=""><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">1.   Application Process:   Instead of traveling to their home countries, applicants can renew their visas by mailing their passports to the U.S. State Department. While this concept was introduced several years ago, its implementation is finally taking shape.<p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">2.   Eligibility:   The pilot program initially focuses on individuals with H-1B work visas, providing them with the convenience of renewing their visas without the need to travel to their home countries<p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"=""><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">3.   Limited Initial Rollout:   The program kicks off with a small-scale pilot, allowing 20,000 cases to undergo the domestic renewal process in December, January, and February. The U.S. State Department plans to expand this initiative to include more categories of workers residing in the United States throughout 2024<p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"=""><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">4.   Operational Details:   If selected as part of the initial 20,000 cases, applicants will be required to mail their passports to the State Department. The department will then print the renewed visa, insert it into the passport, and return it to the applicant. <p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW265551769 BCX0" paraid="66460771" paraeid="{67ced0e6-70e5-4326-9a28-9cf5bd01f47e}{134}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;">During this period, individuals won't be permitted to travel outside the U.S. until they receive their passport back.<span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"=""><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW265551769 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" none="" !important;"="">This development marks a positive stride in facilitating a smoother visa renewal process for H-1B holders, offering an alternative to the previous cumbersome and time-consuming procedure. The pilot program is expected to bring relief to many individuals who can now navigate the renewal process more efficiently and with reduced disruptions to their travel plans.<span class="EOP SCXW265551769 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{" 201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"="" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: " times="" new="" roman",="" "times="" roman_embeddedfont",="" roman_msfontservice",="" serif;"=""> </div>

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