The Department of State has announced its plan to launch a pilot program that would allow H and L temporary work visa holders to renew their visas without leaving the United States. This proposed renewal system is an attempt to restore a previous policy that was discontinued in 2004. Under the said previous policy and before 2004, H-1B visas could be renewed or stamped inside the U.S. However, due to the discontinuance and under the current policy, H-1B visa holders who wish to have their visas renewed would have to return to their country of origin to get their H-1B extension stamped on their passports. As of today, H-1B visa restamping is still not allowed within the U.S.

With this current announcement by the Department of State, H and L visa holders seeking renewal will finally be freed from a huge burden of having to wait for months and getting stuck in their home countries due to the long waiting period in the restamping of their passports as well as the overall unpredictability of the processing as a whole. Furthermore, H and L visa holders are not the only ones who suffer under the existing renewal system. Employers and the business sector also experience the disruptions brought about by the prolonged and volatile processing of work visa renewals especially during the pandemic. The Department of State has already pursued this policy last year. However, they found the challenge too overwhelming as it involves setting up of a new consular division in Washington, D.C.

This current pilot stateside renewal program covers only H and L visa holders. However, the coverage will be expanded later on as guaranteed by the DHS. Thus, we expect that more categories will be covered under this new policy soon. Stay tuned to keep posted on this policy as well as for more updates and discussions on your visa or Green Card.

Attorney Jing Feng is a decorated immigration lawyer who has been working in immigration for years. She has notable experience in this domain, and has successfully gained U.S. residency for thousands of her clients. For more consultation on visa preparation, please contact Jing Feng Law Group, PLLC at info@fengvisa.com. We look forward to hearing from you!