US introduces new, five-week H-1B visa selection criterion. A official pilot initiative to renew the highly sought-after H-1B foreign work permits locally has been initiated by the US; thousands of Indian software workers are expected to profit from this move.
Non-immigrant visas such as the H-1B permit US employers to hire foreign nationals for specialized jobs requiring advanced technical or theoretical training. Tens of thousands of workers from China and India are hired by IT companies every year thanks to it.
The experimental renewal program was started on January 29 and will end on April 1. It will enable holders of valid H-1B visas to renew their visas in the US prior to a brief travel overseas. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic State visit in June of last year, a statement was made in this regard.
The State Department announced on Monday that applications for the pilot program will be accepted from January 29, 2024, to April 1, 2024, or until all available spaces are filled, whichever comes first.
A small number of H-1B nonimmigrants will be able to renew their visas from within the US for the first time in almost 20 years.
According to the State Department, the pilot program is voluntary and will accept about 4,000 applications every week. 2,000 of those applications will come from applicants who previously obtained an H-1B visa through one of the US diplomatic missions in Canada, and another 2,000 will come from applicants who previously obtained an H-1B visa through US embassies and consulates in India.
On January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26, application slots will be made available.
It stated that candidates may only apply via the portal that is linked below during the times listed above. It also stated that applications will be processed in order of receipt until the weekly cap is met.
“Applicants may reapply on any of the remaining application dates throughout the entrance period if they are unable to do so on one of the application dates. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2024, whichever comes first, or until all available places are filled.
According to the State Department, all applications will be handled strictly according to the order in which they are received.
The State Department stated that anyone who are unable to fulfill the requirements for the pilot program or who decide not to participate can still apply for a new visa at a US embassy or consulate abroad.
