Consular Processing

<p>In the H-1B context, <b>consular processing</b> refers to when an H-1B petition is approved without change of status (maybe the person is abroad, or USCIS couldn't issue status because of travel), so the beneficiary must go to a U.S. consulate, apply for the H-1B visa stamp in their passport, and then enter the U.S. in H-1B status.</p><p>Sometimes H-1B petitions are marked for consular processing intentionally. It's also what one must do after a change of status approval whenever they next travel – they'll need to get the visa to re-enter.</p>