Announced in 2023, the U.S. Department of State’s new pilot domestic visa renewal program will start on January 29, 2024 for those applicants who received an H-1B visa from:
- A U.S. consulate in Canada between Jan. 1, 2020, and April 1, 2023.
- A U.S. consulate in India between Feb. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2021.
Limited to 20,000 H-1B workers (50% from India, 50% from Canada), this program will eliminate the need to travel to a U.S. consulate abroad, with their visa renewal being completed in the U.S.
The new pilot program will be limited to 20,000 H-1B workers—10,000 each from Canada and India—and will close on April 1, 2024, or when all application slots are filled (whichever comes earlier). An earlier version of this program had been discontinued in 2004 due to heightened security concerns post the September 11 terrorist attack.
Application slots will be released weekly between January 29 and February 26, 2024 (with about 4000 slots released in this time period).
Eligibility will be determined by a completed, self-guided questionnaire and applicants deemed eligible are required to submit Form DS-160 and pay the $205 nonrefundable application fee online. Applicants will then receive instructions on submitting their passport and required application documents to the State Department.
The program is limited to nationals of countries that are not subject to reciprocity fees and dependent H-4 visa holders and other temporary workers such as L-1 employees currently do not qualify for domestic visa renewals for now although if successful, the program will become more inclusive.
This program was initiated as a means to reduce the burden on U.S. consulates abroad which may continue to struggle post-pandemic. For example India, the largest contributor to the H-1B workforce, has unpredictably lengthy consulate wait times which can lead to workers being uncertain of return times for months, while also discouraging such talent from coming abroad to the U.S.
TLDR: The U.S. Department of State’s pilot domestic visa renewal program for H-1B visa holders from U.S. consulates in Canada and India begins on Jan. 29, 2024. This initiative aims to ease the renewal process, eliminating the need for travel to a U.S. consulate abroad. The program addresses long wait times, particularly in India, aiming to enhance efficiency and potentially expand inclusivity in the future.