If you need to renew a visa, beware! U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made renewing most work-related visas much more difficult.

For the last 13 years, USCIS officers automatically granted visa renewals as long as the situation of the foreign national did not change and no error or fraud was found in the initial visa application.

Now, visa renewals are no longer a given. USCIS officers are now reviewing renewals with the same intense scrutiny as initial petitions even if the situation of the foreign national remains unchanged. This policy change stems from President Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to implement his “Buy American, Hire American” policy.

Visa Renewals Impacted

The new renewal standards apply to the following:

• H Visas: H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, H-1B1
• L-2 Visas: L-1A, L-1B
• O Visas: O-1A, O-1B, O-2
• P Visas: P-1A, P-1B, P-P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S
• Q-1 Visa
• R-1 Visa
• E Visas: E-1, E-2, E-3
• TN Visas: TN for Canadians, TN for Mexicans

Need Help?

The Alcorn Immigration team supports immigration for innovation. And we know what it takes for a successful visa renewal under the new, more stringent policy. Contact us.