DOS Planning Pilot Program for Stateside H and L Visa Renewals

In an interview with Bloomberg Law published on February 9, 2023, U.S. Department of State alluded to plans to allow certain visa holders to renew their visa stamps within the United States by the end of this year, without needing to travel abroad to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate as is currently required. As described in the interview, the option will be available only to H and L visa holders, but could be expanded later on to additional visa categories.

The State Department is hoping this measure will reduce the workload of consular offices abroad, which have seen major appointment backlogs, especially in India, for visa holders who have begun traveling again following years of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stateside visa renewals were previously allowed but were discontinued in 2004. We will provide more updates on stateside renewals as information is released.