H-1B Visa Domestic Renewal: Under this program, Indian IT and technology professionals and Canadian citizens working in America can renew their H-1B visa along with their work permit while staying there.
America’s Joe Biden government has taken a new decision on H-1B visa renewal. This is going to be of great benefit to the Indians living there. In fact, the Biden administration has given the green signal to start a pilot program for domestic renewal of H-1B visas. This program is only for Indian and Canadian citizens. Domestic Renewal Program will start from 29 January 2024. This is also being called the New Year gift of the Biden government.
Under this program, Indian IT and technology professionals and Canadian citizens working in America can renew their H-1B visa along with their work permit by staying there. Under this program, only a maximum of 20,000 people can get their visas renewed.
America has taken this decision about six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America. In June, during his visit to America, PM Modi had announced that people of Indian origin will not have to leave America for H-1B visa and it can be renewed while staying in America itself. Now the new visa rules will make it easier for Indians to live and work in America.
Under this pilot program, Indians who have obtained H-1B visa from the US Consulate in India from February 01, 2021 to September 30, 2021 will be eligible. Apart from this, those Canadian citizens who have obtained H-1B visa from the US Consulate from January 01, 2020 to April 01, 2023.
Let us tell you that H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa, which allows American companies to hire foreign employees. Till now, it used to happen with any IT professionals or other people working in American companies that when their H-1B visa expired, they had to come to their country to get it renewed, but with the new pilot program, now there is no need to come back home. The hassle will end and the visa can be renewed while staying in America itself.
It is believed that by simplifying this process, about 10 lakh people will benefit but the biggest beneficiaries will be Indian citizens. In the year 2022, the US government had issued H-1B visas to 4.42 lakh people. Of these, 73 percent were Indians. An H-1B visa holder can live in the US with his spouse.
