In an effort to expedite the procedure and cut down on wait periods, the US Embassy in India will begin enforcing new rules for scheduling and rescheduling appointments for non-immigrant visas, including those for H-1B visas, on January 1, 2025.
This announcement was made on the official Instagram post of the US embassy shortly after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released new guidelines to update the US H-1B visa application procedure, enabling candidates to quickly fill positions in vital industries.
US Visa
The new visa appointment regulations allow applicants to reschedule their appointments once without incurring further costs. They must make a new appointment and pay the fees again if they are unable to keep their rescheduled appointment or if they need to reschedule more than once.
In order to maintain a seamless and effective procedure, the embassy asked all applicants to show up for their planned appointments, stating in their statement that “these changes will make it easier and faster for everyone to get appointments”.
H1B Visa
The Biden administration’s revised H-1B visa rules, which will also take effect on January 17, 2025, are another step to expedite the visa application process and prevent abuse.
In order to prevent program abuse, applicants for H-1B visas will now need to demonstrate that their degree is directly relevant to their employment.
In order to expedite the process, the new regulations now let immigration officers to handle requests for extensions based on previous approvals. Additionally, they will be able to perform compliance checks in the workplace more frequently.
One of the new regulations also permits applicants who have already applied to use their prior records and bypass in-person interviews through the Interview Waiver Program, which expedites the application process significantly.
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