US Visa Stamping Within USA, Pilot Program In 2023

As a part of the USA Visa renewal process, one needs to get their visa stamped in their home country or another country that allows third-country nationals to get stamping. This process took a turn recently with the Covid-19 regulations. The long visa appointment waits left many staying back in the US without visiting their home country and without stamped Visa they will not be allowed back to the US.

In a recent development, the US Department of state is planning to launch a pilot program where US Visa stamping can be done within the USA. The program will be launched sometime in later 2023. The pilot program would begin with a small number of cases before scaling over the following 1-2 years.

As many trade organizations, immigration lawyers, and business groups have raised concerns over the challenges due to long wait times at the US Consulates abroad. So the pressure mounted on the US Department of State to work to reintroduce domestic visa renewals for anyone living in the US.

The Visa renewal within the USA existed until 2004 for visas C, E, H, I, L, O, and P, but was discontinued due to the change in Public Law 107-173 that enhances border security of the USA. The new law required the collection of Biometrics for the applicants in the US itself. The US Department of State did not have enough facilities to collect biometrics and thus discontinued the process.

The official details of when and how this program will be launched are not known yet. For now, it is evident that the US