H1B visa renewal in USA to start in Jan 2024
H1B visa renewal without traveling outside the USA is going to be available between 29 Jan 2024 to 1 April 2024 within the USA.
The visa renewal, form 221g, or denial within the USA should have the same rules as they have when you travel outside the US.
The major benefit that I foresee is the ability to keep staying in the USA even if the visa renewal is denied, which is not possible if you apply at the US embassy outside the US.
The application can be submitted for H1B visa renewal within the USA at this DOS website. You will be required to fill out the DS-160 form separately.
20k slots are being opened in the pilot phase and 4000 slots will be opened on these dates:
- January 29, 2024
- February 5, 12, 19, and 26 (all in 2024)
- Out of 4000 slots, 2k will be for previous visas issued in Canada, and the rest 2k for visas issued in India.
It’s a good start keeping in mind the trouble people face in booking appointments with the USA Travel Docs website, especially the Indian version which is riddled with software bugs.
Visa Renewal Rules (Pilot program)
- Should be an H1B visa renewal
- Previous H1B visa stamp (expired or unexpired) should have been issued by
- US Embassy in Canada between 1 Jan 2020 to 1 Apr 2023 OR
- US Embassy in India between 1 Feb 2021 to 30 Sep 2021
- Eligible for dropbox
- Must be residing in the US at the time of application
- Your visa can be denied if you leave the US before the application reaches a result
- No proof of residence is required
- Have an approved and valid H1B petition from USCIS (form i797)
- This can be an H1B transfer, change of status, amendment, or an extension approval.
- Most recent valid i94 shows status as “H1B”
- If you changed your status to non-H1B, or your most recent i94 shows any other status, then you are not eligible.
- The eligibility criteria to apply for H1B visa renewal within the USA are quite restricted for the pilot phase.