The United States is set to open up 4,000 application slots weekly for individuals from India and Canada under the H-1B pilot program. The application window is scheduled to run from January 29 to April 1, 2024.

This renewed visa initiative will allocate 4,000 application slots each week for eligible candidates seeking visa renewals. Among these slots, 2,000 will be earmarked for applicants who obtained their most recent H-1B visas from Mission Canada, while the remaining 2,000 slots will be reserved for those whose visas were issued by Mission India.

The application slots will be available on specific dates starting from January 29 and subsequently on February 5, 12, 19, and 26.

For individuals whose last H-1B visa was issued through Mission India, the opportunity to apply for renewal falls on the mentioned dates.

Eligibility Criteria for the H-1B Program:

• Applicants must not be subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance fee (reciprocity fee).
• Submission of ten fingerprints to the Department for a prior visa application is a prerequisite.
• Waiver of the in-person interview is required.
• Recent admission to the US must have been under the H-1B category exclusively. Other visa types are excluded from the pilot phase.
• Applicants must currently hold H-1B status in the United States.
• The authorized admission period in H-1B status should not have expired.

The H-1B visa up for renewal should have been issued by Mission India from February 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021.

Fees for the H-1B pilot program stand at a non-refundable and non-transferable MRV fee of $205.00.

Where to Apply:
Interested applicants can apply by visiting the link Here....... Also, inquiries can be directed to Jami Thompson, Senior Regulatory Coordinator, Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State, via email at VisaRegs@state.gov.

The opening of these weekly slots aims to facilitate the renewal process for H-1B visa holders from India and Canada and streamline the application procedure.

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