US Visa Renewal Pilot Program to Start on January 29, 2024

US Visa Renewal Pilot Program to Start on January 29, 2024

Many years ago, the Department of State (DOS) renewed nonimmigrant work visas in the US, and clients did not have to travel abroad for their visa stamps. While immigration attorneys have been advocating for the return of this process since the pandemic, we will finally be rewarded beginning January 29, 2024.

Participation will be limited to principal H-1B applicants who:

  1. Are seeking to renew an H-1B visa;
  2. Are renewing a prior H-1B visa issued by Mission Canada with an issue date from January 1, 2020-April 1, 2023 or by Mission India with an issue date from February 1, 2021-September 30, 2021;
  3. Are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance (reciprocity) fee;
  4. Are eligible for an in-person interview waiver;
  5. Have been previously ten-printed;
  6. Prior visa doesn’t include a “clearance received” annotation;
  7. Do not have a visa ineligibility that would require a waiver prior to issuance;
  8. Have an approved and unexpired H-1B petition, were most recently admitted to the US in H-1B status and are maintaining H-1B status in the US;
  9. Period of authorized admission in H-1B status has not expired; and
  10. Intend to reenter the US in H-1B status after a temporary period abroad

The program will NOT include dependents of H-1B principals. The program is limited to previously issued visas from Canada and India only. There is a tool to determine eligibility prior to filing: view form

The DOS will begin accepting online applications beginning January 29, 2024 via domestic renewal.

A maximum of 20,000 application slots will be available during this limited pilot program:
Approximately 2,000 per week from each country.

Application slots will be released on the following entry period dates:

Applicants will only be able to apply through the portal linked below during the specified dates above. Applications will be handled on a first-received, first-processed basis until the weekly limit is reached. Applicants who are unable to apply on one application date may reattempt application on any of the remaining application dates during the entry period. The application period will close when all application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first.

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