Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia, has formally called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to broaden and institutionalize the domestic visa renewal process for H-1B and other low-risk visa categories. Subramanyam was joined in this bipartisan initiative by Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, and 17 additional members of Congress. The group of lawmakers emphasized the importance of building on the achievements of the 2024 pilot program that permitted eligible H-1B visa holders to renew their visas while remaining inside the United States.
In their letter to the Secretary of State, the lawmakers outlined several reasons why this change is necessary. They highlighted the positive impact of the pilot program on domestic biometric processing capabilities and underscored the benefits of reducing delays, lowering costs, and decreasing the workload on U.S. embassies abroad. According to their assessment, continuing and expanding the program would yield significant administrative and economic advantages.
“The current process to renew H-1B visas is cumbersome and needs to be modernized,” stated Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. He went on to explain that the bipartisan proposal was grounded in the successful results of the 2024 pilot initiative. “This bipartisan proposal, based on a successful bipartisan 2024 pilot program, will help streamline the H1-B process and avoid unnecessary processing delays.”
The 2024 pilot program was introduced on January 29 and provided 20,000 H-1B visa holders with the option to renew their visas domestically. This move eliminated the requirement for these individuals to travel internationally to get their visas revalidated. The program applied only to those whose previous visas had been issued in either India or Canada within specific time frames. Another stipulation was that their biometric data had to be already recorded and deemed reusable. Approximately half of those who benefited from the program were Indian nationals, reflecting the high concentration of Indian professionals working in the United States under the H-1B category.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi hailed the pilot program’s outcome and expressed strong support for its continuation and expansion. “The 2024 pilot program for domestic visa renewals was a commonsense success, and now it’s time to build on that momentum,” he said. Krishnamoorthi further emphasized the broader implications of the program for the U.S. economy and workforce. “Expanding and formalizing this program will reduce red tape, strengthen our economy, and help ensure that the United States continues to attract and retain the best and brightest talent from around the world.”
Congressman McCormick also shared his backing for the initiative, noting that improving upon the pilot program would show that immigration reform and system modernization are not mutually exclusive with national security. “Building on the pilot will demonstrate that we can modernize our immigration system while maintaining security and efficiency,” he remarked.
The lawmakers’ letter also urged the State Department to broaden the scope of visa categories eligible for domestic renewal. Specifically, they advocated for the inclusion of additional low-risk visa types such as E, I, L, O, and P. Moreover, they recommended that the eligibility criteria for these visa renewals be clarified to reduce confusion and ensure consistent implementation across applicants and cases.
The proposed expansion received robust support from several immigration advocacy organizations. Among those endorsing the initiative were the American Immigration Lawyers Association, FWD.us, the Institute for Progress, and the Economic Innovation Group. These organizations argued that a more expansive domestic visa renewal process would relieve pressure on U.S. consulates overseas, help retain highly skilled professionals, and reinforce the competitiveness of the American economy on the global stage.
According to these advocates, the current visa renewal framework, which often requires foreign nationals to leave the United States and face uncertain timelines and administrative hurdles at U.S. consulates abroad, poses significant personal and professional risks. In contrast, allowing visa renewals to take place domestically would eliminate many of these challenges while also streamlining administrative operations for the State Department.
Supporters argue that the ability to renew visas domestically would be especially beneficial for individuals working in sectors vital to the American economy, such as technology, healthcare, research, and academia. Many of these professionals are employed under H-1B and related visa categories and are integral to innovation and productivity in their respective fields.
By cutting through bureaucratic barriers and facilitating a more efficient process, lawmakers believe the domestic renewal program could make the United States a more attractive destination for top global talent. Congressman Krishnamoorthi reiterated this point, stating again that expanding the program would “help ensure that the United States continues to attract and retain the best and brightest talent from around the world.”
The lawmakers further noted that the 2024 pilot’s success provided a strong foundation upon which a permanent and comprehensive policy could be developed. They urged the State Department to act swiftly and decisively to formalize the process and expand its reach.
In their view, delaying the formalization and expansion of the domestic renewal program would represent a missed opportunity to improve efficiency, support American employers, and provide greater certainty to visa holders who are already contributing to the U.S. economy.
By easing the administrative burden on overseas consulates and enabling visa holders to avoid expensive and often disruptive international travel, proponents believe this change would bring immediate benefits. Additionally, streamlining the renewal process domestically would reflect broader efforts to modernize immigration services while maintaining strict security protocols through the use of existing biometric data.
In summary, the letter from Congressman Subramanyam and his bipartisan colleagues represents a concerted push to modernize and improve the U.S. visa system, starting with the renewal process for H-1B and other low-risk visa holders. The lawmakers, joined by immigration advocacy groups, are calling on the State Department to take concrete steps to transform the pilot program into a permanent policy that will serve both national interests and the individual needs of visa holders. With widespread support and clear evidence of success from the 2024 pilot, advocates see this moment as a pivotal opportunity to enact meaningful reform.