In a recent article, Bloomberg Law reported that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will launch a stateside visa renewal pilot program later this year.

During an interview with the publication, DOS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs Julie Stufft explained that the program will initially be available for H and L visa holders currently in the U.S. and may be expanded to other U.S. based temporary visa holders. Stateside processing of visa renewals was previously available for most nonimmigrant work visa holders in the U.S. through DOS’s Revalidation Division, but was discontinued in 2004 reportedly due to capacity limitations related to biometric identifiers required in all visas issued after October 26, 2004.   

By reviving stateside visa stamp renewal, DOS will help lessen the demand on visa issuing consular posts outside the U.S., which are still recovering from delays amplified during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when consular posts around the world suspended routine visa processing services.  H and L nonimmigrants and their U.S. employers will also benefit from this program, since a new visa may be obtained in the U.S. prior to international travel, thereby avoiding the possibility of delays that routinely occur during the visa application process abroad.