The U.S. State Department will begin a pilot program that will allow some special visa holders to apply for renewals in the United States.

The H-1B visa is a special work permit for some skilled workers like those in tech. But like dozens of other immigration programs, the process of getting and renewing an H-1B visa is backlogged.

But under the new pilot program set to begin in January, a limited number of H-1B visa holders can renew their visas in the United States, rather than having to do so from abroad.

Under current law, visa holders wanting to renew need to leave the U.Ss and apply at an American consulate in the country where the original visa was issued.

The State Department says the pilot program will begin with 20,000 individuals and could expand from there.