Most recent update: May 31, 2024
Scheduling a visa appointment and visa issuance are generally difficult and Consulates may change their expedite appointment processes without any notice. We encourage you to plan ahead as best as you can and to communicate with your family, your academic advisor or your PI, and the Undergraduate or Graduate Deans Office to make an international travel decision that works best for you.
On December 21, 2023, the Department of State announced a pilot program to renew H-1B visas in the United States for certain individuals. DOS will begin accepting online applications on a weekly basis, beginning on January 29, 2024 via https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domestic-renewal.html.
The pilot program will run from January 29, 2024 to April 1, 2024 and has a limited scope. Among other restrictions, the program will be open to H-1B applicants who received their initial H-1B visa in Canada between January 1, 2020 and April 1, 2023, or in India between February 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021; are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance (reciprocity) fee; are eligible for an in-person interview waiver; and whose prior visa doesn't include a "clearance received" annotation.
On January 3, 2023, U.S Consulates in China announced that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and U.S. Consulates in Guangzhou and Shenyang resumed routine consular services. While the announcement states that the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai remains in emergency operations status, the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai's website indicates that it is possible to apply for nonimmigrant visas there.
Visa Processing. On January 2, 2024, the Department of State issued an Update on Worldwide Visa Operations, reflecting an improvement on visa appointment wait times and visa issuance.
Where to Apply. In the January 2, 2024 Update, the Department of State, "encourage[s] any visa applicant who can travel to another embassy or consulate with shorter wait times to consider doing so." Additionally, the Update confirms that applying outside your home country will not place your visa application at a disadvantage.
Tips to Schedule an Interview. A scholar who successfully obtained an H-1B visa in India shared the following tips on how to move an interview date forward, without requesting a formal expedite:
- Check the appointment availability slots daily. Do not do it more than three times in one day, otherwise your account will be blocked for 72 hours.
- Join a Facebook group or other social media to connect with other people who are also looking for visa appointments and posting updates.
- Follow the U.S. Embassy and Consulates because in some countries, they regularly post about appointment openings.
In-Person Interview Waiver. On December 22, 2023, the Department of State Issued an Important Update on Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants to provide consular officers with the authority and discretion to waive the in-person interview for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants. Discretion means that even if you meet the criteria outlined below, you may still be required to make an interview appointment. In-person interviews may be waived for nonimmigrant visa applicants:
- applying for any nonimmigrant visa classification who were previously issued a nonimmigrant visa in any classification (unless the only prior issued visa was a B visa), and,
- who are applying within 48 months of their most recent nonimmigrant visa's expiration date.
Each U.S. Consulate will be implementing the waiver process differently and more details will be found on your U.S. Consulate's website.
International students and scholars are still required to be outside the United States in order to apply for a U.S. visa, unless eligible for the H-1B visa renewal in the United States pilot program described above.
Visa Issuance Delays. An in-person interview waiver does not necessarily mean that the visa issuance will be faster than a visa issued with an in-person interview.
Nonimmigrant visa fees. The current schedule for nonimmigrant visa fees is listed on the U.S. Department of State website.
Reciprocity fees. In addition to the nonimmigrant visa fee, U.S. Consulates charge visa reciprocity fees for certain visa types issued to citizens of certain countries based on the validity period. The amount and the validity periods of reciprocity fees change periodically. Before you travel and need to apply for a visa, review the Visa Reciprocity Schedule. For example:
- H-1B visa issued to a Chinese citizen has no reciprocity fee and is valid for a maximum period of 12 months
- H-1B visa issued to a French citizen has $480 reciprocity fee and is valid for a maximum period 36 months
- H-1B visa issued to an Australian citizen has a $1,695 reciprocity fee and is valid for a maximum period of 48 months
- F-1 visa issued to a Greek citizen has no reciprocity fee for a 12 month validity
- F-1 visa issued to a Greek citizen has an $80 reciprocity for a 60 month validity
Air, Land, and Ferry Travel. Effective May 11, 2023, the White House has ended the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international air travelers. Similarly, effective May 11, 2023, the Dept. of Homeland Security will no longer require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to have COVID-19 vaccinations.
The following requirements will end on May 10, 2023:
November 8, 2021, the Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic limits air travel into the United States to nonimmigrants who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Proclamation includes exceptions, for example:
- Children under 18
- Participants in clinical trials
- Individuals for whom the accepted COVID-19 vaccine is medically contraindicated
- Citizens of foreign countries where the availability of COVID-19 vaccination is limited (this exception does not apply to B-1 or B-2 visitors)
- Anyone for whose entry into the United States would be in the national interest. This does not correlate to the national interest exemptions under the prior, regional travel bans.
This suspension and limitation on entry applies only to air travelers to the United States and does not affect visa issuance. Resources with more information:
- Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for International Travel
- Requirement for negative COVID-19 test within 1 day of departure by air for the United States
- Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Releases Additional Detail for Implementing a Safer, More Stringent International Air Travel System
- Non-U.S. Citizen Air Travel to the United States
- Countries with Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
Land and Ferry Ports of Entry at U.S. Borders with Canada and Mexico. On April 21, 2022, the Dept. of Homeland Security extended the requirement for foreign national travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.
Suspension of Entry. The Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Proclamation 10043 of May 29, 2020. This suspends the entry to the United States of F and J graduate students and researchers from the PRC whose study or research contributes to the PRC's "military‑civil fusion strategy." "Military-civil fusion strategy" is described in the Proclamation as "actions by or at the behest of the PRC to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance the PRC's military capabilities." This Proclamation is based on an individual's country of citizenship (China). It does not apply to undergraduates.
Exemptions. The Proclamation contains exemptions, for example:
- foreign nationals who have a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident spouse
- foreign nationals who are studying or conducting research in a field that would not contribute to the PRC's military‑civil fusion strategy
- foreign nationals whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees
If you believe that you would qualify for an exemption, we suggest that you consult with an immigration attorney since visa applications and admission into the United States are personal applications and are beyond the scope of the International Offices.
Employment While Abroad. Out-of-country remote work is rarely possible. If you are a current Caltech postdoc or staff member, contact Employee and Organizational Development (EOD) prior to making any plans for departure. EOD will evaluate your situation and provide guidance. If you are a current JPL postdoc or staff member, contact your organization's HR business partner (HRBP) (internal site). Caltech and JPL postdocs and staff members will not be able to start new employment while outside the United States. Professorial faculty members should contact International Scholar Services prior to making any plans to work abroad.