A pilot program allowing a limited number of H-1B foreign workers to renew their visas without leaving the United States has been approved by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
The State Department said last month that the pilot project (RIN 1400-AF79), which will initially have 20,000 participants, will be launched in January. But full details about eligibility and how the pilot will work will be revealed when a notice is published in the Federal Register.
The pilot cleared OIRA review on Dec. 15, the final regulatory hurdle before publication.
The United States visa renewal program is one of the many measures the government is working to reduce waiting times for consular services.
Workers on H-1B professional visas, which last three years and are primarily used in the technology industry, must currently obtain an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consular office to obtain a visa before returning to the country. after a trip abroad.
Long wait times for visa services in countries like India, the largest source of H-1B workers, have added uncertainty to the travel plans of these workers and their employers.
