State Department Plans Pilot for Domestic Visa Renewal
The State Department announced its plans to launch a pilot program later this year that would allow H-1B and other temporary visa holders to review their visas without leaving the U.S.
Restoring domestic visa renewals will save significant time and expense for visa holders and will reduce workload at consular offices, according to Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The domestic renewal option, which was previously suspended in 2004, will initially be available to H and L visa holders and could eventually be expanded.
Immigration advocates, including AILA, have been pushing for domestic renewals after the pandemic left countless visa holders in limbo.
We will continue to provide updates about this pilot program as they arise. Subscribe to our mailing list here.
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