State Department pilot program issuing U.S. Visas stateside is closer to implementation

The U.S. State Department’s pilot program to allow some U.S. nonimmigrant visa holders to renew their expiring visas from within the U.S., rather than at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, is one step closer to implementation. The program has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The program must go through publication and implementation.

The first phase of the program is expected to allow eligible H-1B nonimmigrants to renew their expired or expiring visas within the U.S., without requiring travel outside the U.S. to an Embassy in their home country. The initial pilot program is expected to be available only to nationals of countries that do not require a reciprocity fee for visa issuance; India has been confirmed by government officials as included in the pilot.

Initially it will be limited to 20,000 H-1B visas, and plans to expand the program to include H-4 and other visa categories in 2024 and beyond.

For future updates on the program, please check here or our Instagram page @laurenjolaw.