H-1B Stamping in the US Pilot Program

New Pilot Program for H-1B Stamping in the US

Starting on January 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will open an online portal for a select group of H-1B visa holders to apply for visa stamps from within the United States, eliminating the need to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. This pilot program is initially restricted to specific individuals whose most recent H-1B visas were issued in either India or Canada.

Eligibility Criteria for the Pilot Program

Participation in the pilot program is optional and restricted to principal H-1B applicants only. H-4 dependents and other visa categories are not eligible.

To qualify, H-1B principal applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Apply for H-1B visa renewal between Jan. 29, 2024, and April 1, 2024, during the pilot phase.
2. Renewing a prior H–1B visa issued by Mission Canada (Jan. 1, 2020 - April 1, 2023) or Mission India (Feb. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2021).
3. Exempt from reciprocity fees and eligible for an in-person interview waiver under INA Section 222(h).
4. Previously submitted 10 fingerprints to DOS for a past visa application.
5. Previous visa must not have a "clearance received" annotation or require a waiver for visa ineligibility.
6. Have a valid, approved H-1B petition, most recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B status, currently maintain H-1B status, and plan to reenter the U.S. in H-1B status after a brief stay abroad.

DOS will make approximately 4,000 application slots available each week (2,000 for Mission Canada and 2,000 for Mission India) on the following dates:

• January 29
• February 5
• February 12
• February 19
• February 26

The online portal will close once the weekly limit is reached and reopen on the next application date. Applicants who miss one date can try again on any remaining dates. The pilot program will end when all slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.

Applying Online for the Pilot Program

To apply, applicants must visit the designated domestic visa renewal website and choose the host-country post that issued their most recent H-1B visa (Canada or India). A navigator tool will help applicants determine their eligibility for the pilot program. DOS will not store responses provided in the navigator tool.

After the self-assessment, eligible applicants must complete and submit Form DS-160 electronically. They will also receive instructions on paying the mandatory, nonrefundable, nontransferable Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application processing fee and where to send their passports and other necessary documents.

The navigator may not filter out all ineligible applicants. As a result, applications may be returned unadjudicated for not meeting pilot program requirements or potentially adjudicated and denied for not qualifying for an interview waiver. In either scenario, the MRV application processing fee will not be refunded.