The announcement by the United States Department of State on the pilot program for in-country renewal of certain petition-based temporary work visas, including for Indian nationals, during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States is good news for over one million individuals on H-1B visas. Indian American Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent advocate for immigration issues and the President’s advisory commissioner on the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) commission, had been putting in dedicated efforts and recommendations for this big change for the last few years.
“I am honored and happy to see this announcement by the White House joint statement, and Prime Minister Modi himself making an announcement. The H-1 restamping in the USA will bring relief to over one million people on H-1B visas. I am very grateful and thankful to President Biden, the State Department, the AANHPI commission, and Prime Minister Modi,” Bhutoria said in a release on Sunday.
During the visit of PM Modi to the United States, the announcement regarding the H-1B visa renewal stamping being conducted in the US was made at an Indian American community event. The joint statement released by the White House following the visit mentioned this development, indicating the commitment of both nations to streamline visa processes and facilitate the lives of temporary visa holders.
Bhutoria, who is based in Silicon Valley, recognized the challenges faced by individuals on H-1B and L visas, particularly the cumbersome process of restamping visas by returning to their home countries. “This often resulted in long waiting periods, uncertain outcomes, and distressing separations from families residing in the US,” Bhutoria said in the release. Realizing the financial and mental health burdens placed on these individuals and their loved ones, he presented a comprehensive recommendation to the immigration subcommittee of the AANHPI Commission during a September 2022 meeting. The recommendation garnered unanimous approval from the commission, reflecting the urgency and necessity of addressing the difficulties faced by legal immigrants. Based on the recommendation, the US Department of State removed barriers and obstacles to implementing this policy change. The first announcement of the pilot program was made by State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Nancy Jackson at the US India Summit, hosted by Bhutoria in Milpitas, Silicon Valley.
Bhutoria is also advocating for other important immigration reforms, including reducing the green card backlog, facilitating H-1B visa stamping, and improving the issuance of employment authorization documents (EAD) upon I-140 submission, as well as addressing the significant backlog period of five years.
“I am honored and happy to see this announcement by the White House joint statement, and Prime Minister Modi himself making an announcement. The H-1 restamping in the USA will bring relief to over one million people on H-1B visas. I am very grateful and thankful to President Biden, the State Department, the AANHPI commission, and Prime Minister Modi,” Bhutoria said in a release on Sunday.
During the visit of PM Modi to the United States, the announcement regarding the H-1B visa renewal stamping being conducted in the US was made at an Indian American community event. The joint statement released by the White House following the visit mentioned this development, indicating the commitment of both nations to streamline visa processes and facilitate the lives of temporary visa holders.
Bhutoria, who is based in Silicon Valley, recognized the challenges faced by individuals on H-1B and L visas, particularly the cumbersome process of restamping visas by returning to their home countries. “This often resulted in long waiting periods, uncertain outcomes, and distressing separations from families residing in the US,” Bhutoria said in the release. Realizing the financial and mental health burdens placed on these individuals and their loved ones, he presented a comprehensive recommendation to the immigration subcommittee of the AANHPI Commission during a September 2022 meeting. The recommendation garnered unanimous approval from the commission, reflecting the urgency and necessity of addressing the difficulties faced by legal immigrants. Based on the recommendation, the US Department of State removed barriers and obstacles to implementing this policy change. The first announcement of the pilot program was made by State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Nancy Jackson at the US India Summit, hosted by Bhutoria in Milpitas, Silicon Valley.
Bhutoria is also advocating for other important immigration reforms, including reducing the green card backlog, facilitating H-1B visa stamping, and improving the issuance of employment authorization documents (EAD) upon I-140 submission, as well as addressing the significant backlog period of five years.