- Saturday, May 17, 2025
Under this program, H1-B visa holders can get their renewals done without having to leave the United States
By: shajil kumar
SEVERAL Indian-American politicians are now pushing for domestic H-1B visa renewal that will allow visa holders to renew their visas without leaving United States.
Democrat lawmakers, including Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Raja Krishnamoorthi have written to secretary of state Marco Rubio that this should be integrated with the immigration department.
“The current system (of visa renewal), which requires most non-immigrant visa holders to leave the country for renewals, disrupts lives, strains consular resources abroad, causes undue financial burdens on workers, and creates uncertainty for companies relying on these talented individuals,” the letter said.
Apart from the three Indian-origin Congressmen, Rich McCormick, Hank Johnson Jr, Don Bacon, Sanford D Bishop Jr signed the letter.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire skilled immigrants.
The Department of State had run a pilot of Domestic Visa Renewal Program last year from January 29 to April 1 and catered to 20,000 H-1B visa applications.
This program marks a shift from the traditional process, which often requires visa holders to leave the US, attend an interview at a US consulate abroad, and potentially face delays due to visa backlogs or travel restrictions.
The program aims to reduce the burden on visa holders who need to renew their visas by allowing them to do so domestically, thereby avoiding international travel and disruptions to their work or personal lives in the US.
MAGA backlash
The letter has angered several MAGA supporters, including Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon, who argue that H-1B visas should be stopped in favor of America First.
Every name on that letter is that of a traitor to this country, and we won’t forget it. My American suburb is now almost entirely Indian. My home has been turned into a foreign land. We are being conquered, and these sellouts are enabling it. End H1B. End birthright… https://t.co/mueJ8HX7wg
— watersofbabylon (@fluminabbylonis) May 15, 2025
“Every name on that letter is that of a traitor to this country, and we won’t forget it. My American suburb is now almost entirely Indian. My home has been turned into a foreign land. We are being conquered, and these sellouts are enabling it. End H1B. End birthright citizenship,” one wrote slamming the demand.
“Hey #MAGA they’re voting to import MORE foreign workers to take more American jobs. Is that what you voted for? These liars are all #AmericaLast,” another wrote. “Disgusting traitors need to be primaried,” a third user wrote.
Meanwhile Steve Bannon has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s recent approval of H-1B visas for 2026, calling the move “outrageous” at a time when entry-level tech workers in the US are facing mass layoffs and the growing threat of job displacement due to artificial intelligence.
“In a time where they’re having mass layoffs… coupled with AI coming in and going to take off all the entry level jobs,” Bannon said on his War Room podcast, “they’ve approved 135,000 H-1Bs. Well, guess what? This is not going to happen. We’re going to light up every member… that supports this. That is outrageous.”
The former Trump strategist argued that the number of H-1B visas required this year should be “zero” and said that every foreign worker who received one should be sent home.
However, moderate Republicans see H-1B visas as a tool to fill critical workforce gaps, particularly in the tech sector.
