Pilot program aims to reduce H-1B visa renewal wait times

Q Will H-1B workers be able to renew their visas in the United States in 2024?

Officials for the U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced that 20,000 H-1B workers will be permitted to renew their visas in the United States beginning in January 2024 as part of a pilot program. An official notice in the Federal Register is anticipated with additional eligibility details. This stateside visa renewal program is one of several measures the DOS is implementing to help reduce backlogs and long wait times for U.S. visa appointments globally.

Those selected to participate in the pilot program will be permitted to mail their H-1B visa renewal documents directly to the DOS rather than having to travel outside the country and face long or uncertain wait times to secure a visa appointment at a U.S. consular office before returning. However, the DOS has stated that H-4 dependents won’t be eligible to participate in this pilot program.