For the first time in nearly two decades, the Department of State will process domestic visa renewals for certain H-1B visa applicants as part of a pilot program.

Beginning the week of January 29, 2024, the Department will launch this voluntary program for approximately 20,000 eligible participants who meet the requirements listed in the Federal Register.

In 2004, the Department discontinued domestic renewal of non-diplomatic nonimmigrant visas primarily because of requirements resulting from the passage of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, including the requirement for biometric fingerprints.

By designing and delivering services with a focus on both national security and user experience, the Department seeks to alleviate the uncertainty often experienced by U.S. companies that employ temporary workers requiring petition-based visas. The pilot program seeks to increase capacity in our more than 200 consular sections around the world to adjudicate other visa categories – specifically first-time travelers for business and tourism who require in-person interviews.

This pilot program marks another milestone accomplishment for the Bureau of Consular Affairs in 2023, which has made significant strides in modernizing and improving worldwide visa services, always prioritizing national security in the visa process. We will continue to do so in 2024.

The Department will accept applications the week of January 29, 2024 via https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domestic-renewal.html. After this initial tranche of applications, we will seek to expand the scope of this program. For full details on the pilot program, please visit the Federal Register via this link.