What Is The New H-1B Visa Renewal System, How It Will Benefit Indians | Explained - News18
Indians will be able to renew the H-1B visa without having to leave the United States. After the success of a pilot programme, the Department of State is setting up a formal renewal system for H-1B visa holders, which will particularly benefit Indian workers who had to return to India to complete the renewal and stamping process.
“The Department of State completed a successful pilot program to renew of H-1B visas in the United States in 2024. This allowed many specialty occupation workers from India to renew their visas without leaving the United States. This pilot program streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the Department of State is working to formally establish a US-based renewal program in 2025," the US Embassy in India said.
The new process aims to streamline the renewal process for thousands of H-1B visa applicants, easing the burden of securing appointment slots at consulates.
Many Indian H-1B visa holders have complained about the renewal process being frustrating, particularly when it comes to securing Dropbox slots. This system allows eligible applicants to renew their US visas without in-person interviews.
For Indian H-1B visa holders, all Dropbox submissions are processed through the US Consulate in Chennai, although applicants can drop their documents at visa application centres across India. However, securing these slots has proven to be a challenge.
“While the system is frustrating, it’s not intended to be convenient. The US State Department has been open about the resource challenges and is trying to catch up with the backlog caused by the pandemic," Russell A Stamets, partner at Circle of Counsels said, as quoted by Business Standard. He added, “If you don’t get your visa in time, you’re basically out of luck."
The new system was launched by the Department of State a year ago as a trial effort to assess the visa application process. There were about 20,000 qualified participants who fit the criteria specified in the US Federal Register.
Since the pilot project was effective, the department will be able to implement a formal renewal process in the United States in 2025.
Although it has been established that the new process will begin this year, no formal start date has been set.
Indian professionals make up the majority of H-1B visa holders. In 2022, Indian nationals accounted for 77% of the 320,000 approved H-1B visas, and in 2023, the percentage remained high at 72.3% of 386,000 visas issued.
Historically, they have faced challenges while renewing the visa, including expensive flight tickets to home and prolonged delays caused by limited appointment slots.
The new renewal system is expected to save significant time, energy, and costs associated with international travel of Indian tech professionals working in the US.
Not just employees, the simplified visa renewal process will also benefit US employers, ensuring continuity in projects and reducing workforce disruptions. It will help Indian families maintain their stability in the US.
Registration: In March of each year, applicants for the H-1B visa must pay a $10 registration fee to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS Filing: All H-1B petitions must pay the base $460 fees, and all initial and change of employer petitions must pay the $500 anti-fraud fee.
Additional Costs For Specific Companies: Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, employers with more than 50 employees that have over half of their staff on H-1B or L-1 visas are subject to a $4,000 fee, which will be in place until September 30, 2025.
Premium processing (optional): Costs $2,805 for expedited processing within 15 days. Employers typically bear the visa costs, though some expenses may fall on employees.
Elon Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the new Donald Trump government, has backed the H-1B visa programme, saying on X, “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B".
Donald Trump has also supported Musk, and told the New York Post that he “always liked the visas". “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B".
In one of his posts, Musk had made the case for expanding the H-1B visa programme. “We should greatly increase legal immigration of anyone who is hard-working, honest and loves America," he wrote. “Every such person is an asset to the country. But massive illegal immigration of people we know nothing about is insane."
However, some of Trump’s most vocal and committed MAGA supporters have criticised the visa programme as inconsistent with the ‘America First’ and anti-immigration philosophy on which the president-elect built his appeal. Some critics also argue that by importing foreign workers, the US government blocks the path to advancement for American workers and college graduates, including minorities.
The H-1B visas for skilled workers were introduced in 1990. They are typically granted for three years, but can be extended for up to six years.
Since 2004, the number of new H-1B visas issued has been limited at 85,000 per year — 20,000 of which are reserved for foreign students with master’s degrees or higher from US universities. However, that cap does not apply to universities, think tanks and other non-profit research groups. Thus, more H-1B visas are issued.
The US government also approves extensions for those already working in the country.
The vast majority of approved applicants work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Most are in computer-related occupations — 65% in the 2023 fiscal year. This was followed by architecture, engineering and surveying — about 10% of people approved in 2023 worked in those sectors.
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In terms of companies, Amazon was the top employer of people on H-1B visas in 2024, hiring more than 13,000 staff via the scheme, as per a report by BBC. Google, Meta, and Apple ranked 4th, 6th and 8th respectively on the employer list.
Tesla, one of the companies owned by Musk ranked 22nd, employing 1,700 people on an H-1B visa.
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