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A big program is going to start from today for foreign citizens working in America. A pilot program for domestic renewal of H-1B visa is starting in America from today.
This program was announced in December last year. At that time, Deputy Assistant Minister for Visa Services Julie Stafford had said that Indians would suffer the most because Indians have the largest number of skilled workers in America.
In June last year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a state visit to America, work was going on to simplify the renewal process of H-1B visas. This program was also formally announced at the time of PM Modi’s visit.
The pilot program of visa renewal which is starting from today will run for three months. During this period, visas of 20 thousand people will be renewed.
Which citizens will have their visas renewed?
Only those people who were issued H-1B visas from the Indian Consulate in America between February 1 to September 30, 2021 and from the Canadian Consulate between January 1, 2020 to April 1, 2023, will have their visas renewed.
Non-immigrant visa issuance fee will also not be charged from such foreign nationals. Apart from this, those who have submitted ten fingerprints during the first visa application, they will also be exempted from the interview.
How long will this program run?
According to the notice issued by the US Department of State, the visa renewal program will run from January 29 to April 1.
During this period, visas of only 20 thousand people will be renewed. If 20 thousand applications are received before April 1, then it will be closed. Visas of 4 thousand people will be renewed every week.
Applicants can apply for visa renewal on 29 January, 5 February, 12 February, 19 February and 26 February. If the application is not successful the first time, you can apply again next week.
How can I apply?
One can apply online for renewal of H-1B visa. For this Department of State website will go on.
In addition to the DS-160 barcode sheet, a copy of the passport issued for valid travel to America will be required. It must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of application. There should be at least two blank pages in the passport for visa foil placement.
After filling out the DS-160 form, a fee of $205 will be charged. This will neither be refunded nor transferred. This fee will be paid through the online portal only.
Apart from all this, a photo, copy of I-797 and I-94 forms as well as records of coming and going to America will also have to be provided.
When will the visa be renewed?
According to the Department of State, after completing all the processes under this pilot project, it will take 6 to 8 weeks for the visa to be renewed. If an applicant wants to renew his visa early, he can apply as per the normal procedure.
What is H-1B visa?
H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa. It allows American companies to hire foreign workers. Whenever a person works in an American company, he is issued an H-1B visa.
Till now it used to be that if a person’s H-1B visa had expired, he had to return to his country again to get it renewed. But now you will not have to come home for the renewal process. The visa will be renewed only while staying in America.
Simplifying the renewal process of H-1B visa will benefit about 10 lakh people and a large number of them will be Indians. Lakhs of Indians are working in America. In 2022, the US government had issued H-1B to 4.42 lakh people. Of these, 73 percent were Indians.
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