H-1B Visa Renewal Rollout: Major Benefits Forecasted for Indian Professionals
Written by Sanjay Kumar
The United States is set to roll out a pilot program for the domestic renewal of specific categories of H-1B visas, a move expected to significantly benefit a large number of Indian technology professionals, according to Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services.
The program, set to begin in December, follows the announcement made by the White House during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June. In an interview with PTI, Stufft stated that the demand for US visas remains high in India, and the extended wait times of six to twelve months are not reflective of the country’s importance. The goal is to expedite visa appointments for Indian travelers through the domestic renewal initiative, initially piloted over a three-month period, issuing 20,000 visas to foreign nationals already residing in the US.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary emphasized that the majority of these visas would go to Indian nationals, given their status as the largest skilled group of workers in the United States. The program aims to prevent individuals from having to travel back to their home countries for visa renewal, allowing US missions in India to focus on processing new applications.
While the State Department has been working on this initiative for some time, the formal announcement came during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Stufft explained that the program will be officially detailed in a federal register notice, outlining eligibility criteria and application procedures. The domestic visa renewal program exclusively applies to work visas and is an existing regulation that has not been utilized in approximately 20 years.
Stufft assured that the entire process would take place within the United States. Visas will be mailed to Washington, where they will be printed, processed, placed in passports, and then sent back to applicants in the US. This eliminates the need for individuals to travel to neighboring countries or back to India for visa renewals.
Describing the initiative as a “huge undertaking,” Stufft expressed excitement about the pilot program’s launch, starting with 20,000 cases in December, January, and February. The plan is to expand the program to include more categories of workers living in the United States throughout 2024.
The move has been welcomed by the Indian community in the US, with community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria terming it “significant.” As a commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, Bhutoria highlighted that this relief would impact over one million H-1B holders, a substantial number of whom are Indians.
Bhutoria expressed gratitude to President Biden, the State Department, and the AANHPI Commission for implementing the recommendation he presented regarding H-1B visa stamping in the USA. He emphasized his ongoing commitment to advocating for policy changes, including removing the seven-year country cap, reducing the green card backlog, and addressing issues like EAD for approved I-140 with a five-year backlog and aging out kids.
In conclusion, Bhutoria emphasized that this progress reflects a societal shift towards inclusivity and the alleviation of burdens for legal immigrants.
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