The Department of State announced that it is launching a pilot program later this year allowing certain H-1B and L visa holders to renew expired and expiring visas in the United States. At present, H and L visa holders are required to travel abroad to a U.S. Consulate to obtain their visa stamps. Reestablishing the program, which was discontinued in 2004, will help alleviate the workload for consular offices abroad, reducing the backlogs and getting wait times down. The program will also allow foreign nationals to avoid uncertainty about their return to the United States and potential disruptions to their employment.
The exact timeline for the program and whether it will be expanded to other visa types remains unclear. The Department of State will be setting up a new consular division in Washington, D.C., but is yet to announce where else in the United States it will process visa applications. Updates will be shared as developments occur.