The U.S. intends to resume domestic visa renewals for certain categories including the H-1B type popular among high-skilled IT workers from India and China, a relief for the visa holders currently required to leave the country for the process.
A State Department spokesperson said plans call for resuming domestic renewals in “certain petition-based nonimmigrant work visa categories,” which include H and L visas. H-1B visas let employers hire high-skilled foreign workers with a bachelor’s or higher degree for two three-year periods. L-1 visas let employers transfer executives or managers to the U.S. from overseas offices.
The department will begin a pilot program later this year before scaling up to all eligible visa holders.