USCIS proposed rule changes renewal process for H-1B and work visas

The Department of Homeland Security proposed eliminating the expedited renewal pathway for H-1B and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas, affecting roughly 208,000 extension petitions annually.

Under the new rules, USCIS officers would be barred from referencing prior approvals, requiring a complete reassessment of each case regardless of whether applicant circumstances remain unchanged.

The modification is projected to extend processing times by several months and increase the volume of Requests for Evidence, heightening uncertainty for workers and sponsors.