Indian-American Lawmakers Back H-1B Visa Renewal Overhaul
Washington — Indian-American lawmakers Suhas Subramanyam and Raja Krishnamoorthi are backing legislation that would allow H-1B professionals and several other categories of foreign workers to renew their visas without leaving the United States.
The lawmakers said allowing domestic visa renewal would reduce disruptions for workers, families and employers while freeing U.S. consular officials overseas to focus on new visa applications and other diplomatic responsibilities.
The proposal is part of a three-bill package announced by Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia, aimed at reducing visa-processing backlogs, modernizing immigration procedures and improving U.S. responses to emergencies affecting Americans abroad.
The Domestic Visa Renewal Modernization Act would expand a 2024 pilot program that allowed some H-1B visa holders to renew their visa stamps from within the United States.
Under the bill, domestic renewal would be available to holders of H-1B, H-1B1, E, I, L, O and P visas.
Those categories include skilled professionals, multinational company executives, investors, journalists, athletes, entertainers and individuals with extraordinary ability.
Visa holders generally must travel to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad to obtain a new visa stamp, a requirement that lawmakers say can create lengthy delays and leave workers stranded outside the country.
“People who are already legally living and working in the United States should not have to leave the country simply to renew their visas,” Krishnamoorthi said.
“Our Domestic Visa Renewal Modernization Act would cut unnecessary red tape, give workers and employers greater certainty, and help ensure America remains competitive in attracting and retaining talented people from around the world,” he added.
Krishnamoorthi and Republican Rep. Don Bacon are co-leading the legislation with Subramanyam. Democratic Reps. Jonathan Jackson and Deborah Ross are also co-sponsors.
A second proposal, the Reducing Visa Delays Act, would require the State Department to assess whether U.S. embassies and consulates have sufficient staffing to reduce appointment and processing backlogs.
The bill would also require a review of visa-vetting policies imposed by the Trump administration and would seek greater transparency around overall visa wait times.
“My constituents deal with the consequences of extended visa delays on a daily basis. Appointment backlogs and processing delays disrupt families and jobs. We need to address them,” Subramanyam said.
The third measure, the Strengthening Emergency Responses Act, focuses on Americans caught in wars, natural disasters and other crises overseas.
It would require the State Department to update evacuation plans after emergency operations and review how information is provided to people seeking assistance.
The measure would also require regular State Department communication with the next of kin of Americans affected by major disasters abroad.
Subramanyam said constituents reported receiving limited guidance while trying to leave the Middle East at the start of the Iran war. He said families also sought better communication following flooding in Nepal in August.
“At the start of the Iran War, I had constituents stranded in the Middle East with little guidance and no advance notice. It is critical to communicate closely with families of those impacted by disasters abroad too,” he said. (Source: IANS)
