The Department of State plans to start renewing H-1B nonimmigrant visas within the United States for specific applicants through a pilot program in early 2024. This initiative, currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget, marks a shift from the current practice where visa renewals are processed only at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Initially targeting H-1B principal visa holders (excluding dependents), the program will have eligibility criteria, like recent prior visa issuance, and is voluntary, offering an alternative to overseas processing.
The pilot is likely to be restricted to nationals from countries without reciprocity fees, with India notably included. The exclusion of reciprocity fees, which vary by country and are used to balance visa costs, aims to streamline the pilot’s rollout. The initiative seeks to alleviate consular backlogs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and will initially accommodate up to 20,000 applicants. Success in the pilot phase could lead to expansion into other employment-based visa categories, though full-scale implementation might take time.