H-1B, L1 Visas Stamping Could Be Soon Inside US

Washington DC: The United States is planning to resume domestic visa revalidation for specific categories which could positively impact the lives of numerous foreign tech workers holding H-1B and L1 visas.

The launch of the pilot project, scheduled for later this year, when fully executed, would bring significant relief to thousands of Indian tech professionals based in the United States.

Until 2004, non-immigrant visas such as the H-1B visa could be renewed or stamped within the US for certain categories.

However, since then, foreign tech workers, particularly those holding H-1B visas, have had to leave the US and travel to their home country to get the H-1B extension stamped on their passports for visa renewal.

The passport must be stamped with the renewal dates for all H-1B visa holders if they wish to travel outside of the US and re-enter. Currently, H-1B visa restamping is not permitted within the US and can only be done at a US consulate.

This requirement has caused significant inconvenience for foreign guest workers and their employers, particularly when visa wait times are longer than 800 days, or more than two years. H-1B visas are usually issued for three-year periods.