December 21, 2023

Starting in January, some H-1B workers in specialty occupations will be permitted to renew their visas in the United States. This change is part of a domestic visa renewal pilot program. According to the program, the pilot will include 20,000 H-1B participants.

The pilot program intends to reduce the wait time for people traveling to the United States. Under the domestic visa renewal pilot program, H-1B visa holders could renew their visas by mail instead of leaving the United States. They would mail their renewal to the State Department, avoiding the worry of waiting to obtain an appointment at a U.S. consular office before returning to the United States. A Federal Register notice will detail how the program works next month.

Interview Waivers

The State Department is also developing an interview waiver program for qualified temporary visas. This program would allow consular offices to grant interview waivers at their discretion. The agency is also considering digital visas for individuals traveling to the U.S., similar to the waiver authority consulates use for some visa categories. 

The government provided this authority during the pandemic. Though the government extended the waiver several times, it will expire at the end of 2023. However, many businesses have asked the government to renew this authority again. 

The waiver authority considerably helped consulates. According to reports, it allowed consulates to concentrate their resources on other issues. For example, the waiver allowed them to issue roughly half of 2022’s temporary visas without in-person interviews. This success inspired many advocates to request an extension before the authority expires.

Pilot Program Details

The domestic visa renewal program is still under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Due to the wait, it remains uncertain how the program will work, how it will choose participants and other specific details.

Many interested parties must wait for the Federal Register notice to release this information. Depending on the notice’s explanation, some may rush to apply if the program requires applications. Regardless, the domestic renewal option would prove particularly helpful for countries with long wait times for visa appointments, such as India.

Employers hiring H-1B workers must remember to complete the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) process. They must repeat this process when reverifying the employee’s work authorization. Unfortunately, the I-9 process has proven confusing and costly for many.

One way to ensure correctly filled out Form I-9s is to use an electronic I-9 management system. This system guides HR personnel through the I-9 process, safely secures the forms, and offers notifications for when to take action. Companies that use E-Verify can also find systems with E-Verify integration.

Streamline your hiring process with an automated employment eligibility verification and ensure compliance today with I-9Compliance.

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