A State Department’s recently launched pilot program to renew H-1B visas in the United States will not cover dependents of H-1B professionals.
However, the new changes may have a negative impact on H-1B professionals who have families in the United States, VisaGuide.World reports.
Regarding the potential incorporation of dependents into this scheme, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Julie Stufft commented to reporters following the announcement of this program, according to Bloomberg.
We must establish its effectiveness before considering expansion to a wider audience. This represents a significant shift for individuals residing here, who would have previously been obliged to depart the United States.
The recent changes led organizations, as well as their constituents, to call on the US authorities to include H-4 dependents as well.
The H-1B visa renewal pilot is projected to allow a specific number of H-1B visa workers in the US to renew their visas starting from January, as confirmed by the United States Department.
The renewal pilot program has been proposed for more than 20,000 persons, allowing those qualified for the H-1B visa scheme to mail their visas to the State Department without being obliged to travel outside the US to complete visa stamping.
Additional details regarding the selection criteria for the initial 20,000 candidates have not been provided yet. The new changes have been introduced as part of efforts to reduce wait times for entry to the United States.
According to Stuff, the US must establish its effectiveness before expanding it. She considered the recent announcement a significant change for individuals residing in the US.
This is an existing regulation that was allowed that we just have not used in about 20 years. These are work visas. It is intended for people who are living long-term in the US but want to renew their visa without going back overseas.
The US State Department used to renew visas in the US before the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act was enacted into law in 2002. However, this practice was ceased in 2004 due to the biometrics requirements introduced by the legislation as the reason for discontinuation.
Travelling to other countries to renew visas causes significant difficulties for H-1B visa holders as well as other international employees as a result of airline costs and lengthy waits for visa appointments or processing.
The H-1B visa program allows internationals engaged in fields such as IT specialists, architects, accountants, lawyers, and doctors to temporary work in the US.
In order to accelerate long visa processing times, the US State Department also announced that an extension of the interview waiver program to qualify for temporary visas is also being developed.