New Delhi: The United States is set to launch a renewal programme allowing H-1B visa holders to renew their documents without leaving the country, according to the American embassy in New Delhi. The move would allow millions of Indians working in the US to renew their visa without coming back home.
The US-based renewal initiative for H-1B visa holders is expected to be implemented this year, offering significant relief to numerous Indian workers in specialised occupations who currently need to return home to renew and restamp their visas.
This announcement follows the successful completion of a pilot programme that allowed H-1B visa renewals within the United States.
What are the new H1-B visa rules
“The pilot programme enabled many specialty occupation workers from India to renew their visas without leaving the country. It streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the Department of State is now working to formally establish a US-based renewal programme in 2025,” the embassy stated in a year-end report.
The requirement to return to India for H-1B visa renewal and restamping has long been a concern for Indian workers in the US, particularly due to the challenge of securing appointment slots, which can sometimes be scarce.
This initiative comes amidst ongoing debate surrounding H-1B visas in the US. The issuance of H-1B visas to Indian skilled workers has been a contentious issue in discussions about foreign labour and job competition. Some supporters of incoming US President Donald Trump argue that H-1B visa holders, the majority of whom are Indian, displace American workers and threaten Western job security.
However, President-elect Donald Trump, along with prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has defended the programme, emphasising the importance of attracting skilled foreign talent to address the shortage of engineers in the US.
The H-1B pilot programme was designed to simplify the renewal process for visa holders who previously had to travel abroad for renewal. Its success has laid the groundwork for the Department of State to introduce a formal US-based renewal process in 2025.
This development is particularly advantageous for Indian workers, who make up the largest share of H-1B visa recipients. The H-1B visa is issued to foreign professionals in specialised fields, including technology, engineering, medicine, and finance.
Indian H-1B visa holders in US
Indian nationals have consistently led H-1B visa applications in recent years. In 2022, they accounted for 77% of the 320,000 approved H-1B visas, with this figure remaining high at 72.3% of the 386,000 visas issued in fiscal 2023.
In addition to H-1B visas, India has experienced a rise in the number of international students in the US. In 2024, India became the leading source of international students in the US, with over 331,000 Indian students pursuing higher education there. This marks the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year that India has held the top position.
