The Biden administration is reportedly planning to introduce measures to make it more convenient for Indians and other foreign workers on H-1B visas to renew their visas within the United States without the need for international travel.
This initiative, expected to be announced by the State Department soon, aims to address the mobility needs of skilled professionals and make the process more seamless. Indian citizens constitute a significant majority of H-1B visa holders, with 73% of the nearly 442,000 H-1B workers in fiscal year 2022 being Indians. The pilot project, set to launch later this year, would provide relief to numerous Indian tech professionals residing in the US. Currently, visa holders are compelled to travel to a US consulate abroad for visa renewal. The proposed change seeks to alleviate challenges H-1B visa holders face amidst recent layoffs in the tech industry.
However, it is important to note that the program would not apply to laid-off H-1B workers, who are required to leave the US within 60 days if they cannot secure new employment or transfer to another visa category.