The US Department of State is set to establish a US-based renewal program in 2025, allowing Indians to renew their H-1B visas without leaving the country.
In a year-end statement, the US embassy in New Delhi said the US Mission to India issued more than one million non-immigrant visas for the second year in a row in 2024, including a record number of visitor visas. This underscores the huge demand of Indians for travel to the United States for tourism, business and education, it observed.
The Department of State completed a successful pilot programme to renew H-1B visas in the US last year, allowing several specialty occupation workers from India to renew their visas without leaving the US. “This pilot programme 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,” it said.
‘A transformative step’
The proposed introduction of the US-based H-1B visa renewal program is a transformative step that could significantly benefit Indian professionals and organisations, echoed Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD & CEO of CIEL HR. “By eliminating the need for international travel for renewals, this initiative would reduce costs and minimise disruptions for both employees and employers. Currently, the process imposes substantial logistical and financial challenges, including securing visa slots and managing extended absences from work—issues that disproportionately affect a large segment of Indian professionals working there. This streamlined approach will enhance efficiency bolster confidence among aspiring talent considering the H-1B route,” he said.
In the past four years, the number of visitors from India increased by five times. Over two million Indians travelled to the US in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26 per cent increase over the same period in 2023, the American embassy pointed out. Over five million Indians have a non-immigrant visa to visit the US, with the embassy issuing thousands more daily.
“The US Mission to India issued tens of thousands of immigrant visas, facilitating legal family reunification and the migration of skilled professionals. These immigrant visa holders became permanent residents upon their arrival, adding to the already rich and sizable Indian diaspora community in the United States,” it said.
In 2024, India became the top sender of international students for the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year with over 3,31,000 students studying in the US. More Indian students than ever before now have US student visas. India also remained the largest sender of international graduate students in the US for the second year. The number of Indian graduate students increased by 19 per cent to reach almost 2,00,000 students.
Neeti Sharma, the CEO of TeamLease Digital, said, “The US allowing H-1B visa renewals domestically is a significant step towards strengthening the talent ecosystem. It ensures continuous access to skilled professionals for businesses in the US, supporting innovation and growth. For Indian IT services companies, this policy eliminates the need for international travel during renewals, reducing costs, minimizing disruptions, and enhancing overall productivity. This move benefits businesses on both sides and reinforces the partnership between the US and India in driving global technological advancements.”
Of the 386,318 H-1B petitions approved in FY23, 72 per cent were for beneficiaries from India, noted US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In FY22, Indians accounted for 72.6 per cent of 441,502 H-1B petitions approved.
According to the American Embassy, many exchange visitors will be able to remain in the United States, with no need to return home for two years after completing their programs in the country. “The removal of India from the Exchange Visitors Skills List has provided greater flexibility for these Indian J-1 non-immigrant visa holders,” it said.
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Published on January 7, 2025
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/us-to-allow-domestic-h-1b-visa-renewal-for-indians-in-2025/article69073131.ece
