H-1B visa renewal can be done in US itself: PM Modi in address to Indian diaspora
- In a big relief to Indian professionals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Indian professionals can renew their work visas without travelling abroad.
- In a massive relief for H-1B visa holders in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Indian-Americans will not have to travel outside the US to renew their H-1B visas. The big announcement came a day after the US Department of State said that it would launch a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas by the end of 2023.
- This project will include Indian nationals, with the intent to implement this for an expanded pool of H1B and L visa holders in 2024 and eventually broadening the program to include other eligible categories.
- The move is part of a people-to-people initiative and comes after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden.
- The United States authorities announced that they will introduce ‘in-country’ renewable H-1B visas as part of the people-to-people initiative to smoothen the process of H-1B visa renewal for several Indians who are working in the US on a H-1B visa.
- Additionally, in an effort to ease the lives of Indian-Americans, India has announced the opening of a new consulate in Seattle this year. The Government of India is also working towards opening new consulates in two other American cities, PM Modi added.
- In these 3 days, a new and glorious journey of India and the US relations has begun. This new journey is of our convergence on global strategic issues, of our cooperation for Make in India Make for the World. Be it technology transfer and manufacturing cooperation or increasing coordination in the industrial supply chain, both nations are taking strong steps towards a better future. The decision of General Electric Company to manufacture fighter planes in India will prove to be a milestone for India’s defence sector,” said PM Modi.
- The leaders affirmed that the movement of professional and skilled workers, students, investors and business travelers between the countries contributes immensely to enhancing bilateral economic and technological partnership.
