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H-1B visa holders may not have to travel to India to renew visas

Thursday, 09 Jan, 2025

New York: Indian citizens and other foreign nationals holding an H-1B working visa in the USA will soon be able to renew their visas in the United States without having to travel back to their home country.  

Previously, H-1B visa holders were required to visit a US consulate in their country to renew their visas. However, they will now be able to apply for a visa extension or renewal from within the USA. 

The US Embassy in Delhi stated that the US is set to establish a renewal program that will allow all H-1B visa holders to renew their documents without leaving the country. 

It allows H-1B holders to renew their visas by mailing their documents to the State Department, rather than traveling outside the US and facing uncertain wait times to secure an appointment at a US consular office. 

This development comes after the success of a pilot program for the domestic renewal of certain categories of H-1B visas. 

The visa renewal pilot program was one of several measures introduced by the State Department to reduce wait times for US travel.