Smooth Sailing: U.S. Department of State Reports Success with H-1B Visa Renewal Program

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) reports a smooth start and a lower volume of applications than it anticipated when it launched a pilot program in January of 2024. The initiative allowed individuals whose last H-1B visa was issued in India or Canada to renew the visa stamps in their passports online without having to leave the United States. The DOS also noted it is processing cases in seven days on average, which is far faster than the four to six weeks it initially thought cases would require. The program will run until all of the slots allocated have been used or until April 1, 2024.

To be eligible for this program, applicants’ last H-1B visa must have been issued in the timeframes below.

• Canada between January 1, 2020, and April 1, 2023
• India between February 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021

Other eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must not be subject to any reciprocity fee
• Applicants must be eligible for an interview waiver
• The previous visa cannot have a “clearance received” annotation
• Applicants must have previously submitted 10 fingerprints to DOS
• Applicants must have a valid H-1B petition, currently be in H-1B status in the United States and plan to re-enter the U.S. in H-1B status after temporary travel abroad
• Applicants must also have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date of application.

Applications must be filed online here.

Please consult with your Dinsmore immigration counsel if you have any questions regarding eligibility for this program.