The State Department will pilot a program later this year allowing H and L visa holders to renew their visas in the US. Currently, they are required to travel abroad to process their renewal.
Domestic renewals would save applicants the time and expense of leaving the United States and reduce the workload of consular offices abroad. Domestic visa renewals were discontinued in 2004.
Representatives for the Bureau of Consular Affairs have pointed to the difficulties people faced during the pandemic to travel to their home country and secure a visa appointment to return to their home in the US.
Erickson Insights
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