On October 17, a State Department rule (RIN: 1400-AF79) that would initiate a stateside stamping pilot program for certain noncitizens was sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
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What’s next: The OIRA review process is the last step before the new regulations are released to the public.
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Why it matters: Currently, H-1B specialty occupation visa holders must travel abroad to renew their visas. Domestic renewal would mitigate the delays visa holders experience waiting for appointments or due to travel issues.
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Background: Domestic visa renewals were discontinued following September 11, 2001, because of issues meeting security and data collection requirements.
Erickson Insights
Erickson Immigration Group, in concert with our government affairs team and resources on Capitol Hill, will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.