Washington, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two Indian-American lawmakers, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam and Raja Krishnamoorthi, have backed legislation that would allow H-1B professionals and holders of several other categories of US work visas to renew their visas without leaving the country.
The proposal is part of a three-bill legislative package announced by Subramanyam, a Democrat representing Virginia. The measures seek to reduce visa-processing backlogs, modernise the immigration system and improve US responses when American citizens are caught in emergencies overseas.
The Domestic Visa Renewal Modernization Act would expand a 2024 pilot programme that allowed certain H-1B visa holders to renew their visa stamps within the United States. The proposed legislation would extend domestic renewal to holders of H-1B, H-1B1, E, I, L, O and P visas.
These visa categories cover skilled professionals, executives transferred within multinational companies, investors, journalists, athletes, entertainers and individuals with extraordinary ability.
Currently, visa holders generally need to travel to a US embassy or consulate abroad to obtain a new visa stamp. Delays in securing appointments can leave workers stranded outside the country, disrupting their employment and separating them from their families.
“People who are already legally living and working in the United States should not have to leave the country simply to renew their visas,” Krishnamoorthi said.
“Our Domestic Visa Renewal Modernization Act would cut unnecessary red tape, give workers and employers greater certainty, and help ensure America remains competitive in attracting and retaining talented people from around the world,” he added.
Krishnamoorthi and Republican Representative Don Bacon are co-leading the legislation with Subramanyam. Democratic Representatives Jonathan Jackson and Deborah Ross are co-sponsors.
The second proposal, the Reducing Visa Delays Act, would require the US State Department to assess whether embassies and consulates have adequate staffing to reduce appointment and processing delays. It would also mandate a review of visa-vetting policies introduced by the Trump administration.
The bill includes transparency provisions intended to give applicants a clearer understanding of the total waiting periods they face.
“My constituents deal with the consequences of extended visa delays on a daily basis. Appointment backlogs and processing delays disrupt families and jobs. We need to address them,” Subramanyam said.
The third measure, the Strengthening Emergency Responses Act, focuses on Americans caught in overseas conflicts and natural disasters. It would require the State Department to update its evacuation plans after every emergency evacuation and review how information is shared with people seeking evacuation assistance.
The legislation would also require regular communication between the State Department and the next of kin of Americans affected by major disasters abroad.
Subramanyam said constituents had reported receiving insufficient guidance while trying to leave the Middle East at the beginning of the Iran war. Families had also sought better communication following the August floods in Nepal.
“At the start of the Iran War, I had constituents stranded in the Middle East with little guidance and no advance notice. It is critical to communicate closely with families of those impacted by disasters abroad too,” he said.
The three bills are intended to address visa-renewal difficulties, processing delays and gaps in emergency communication, according to the lawmakers.
FOLLOW NOW
