21 October, 2024
Here are the 5 EVs that qualify for the full federal tax credit in 2024
The U.S. government has revealed the list of electric vehicles that qualify for the full federal tax credit under the newer, more stringent guidelines, and you can count them on one hand. General Motors’ outgoing Chevy Bolt, plus certain variants of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y and Model X are now the only EVs that are eligible for the $7,500 rebate.
Beyond that, certain variants of Rivian’s R1S and R1T, plus a handful of plug-in hybrids, qualify for $3,750. Chrysler’s Pacifica plug-in hybrid was able to stay eligible for the full credit. Otherwise, that’s all.
Until this list was published Monday, the new requirements had many people scratching their heads about what, exactly, would qualify. Even Tesla admitted in its own way that it wasn’t exactly sure.
The reason the list is so anemic is because lawmakers are trying to force the EV supply chain to shift — or at least diversify away — from China to North America in the long run. In the short term, that means automakers who rely heavily on Chinese suppliers, specifically for battery materials and components, are losing eligibility. This is on top of a few other baked-in restrictions, like the fact that the vehicles must be built in North America, and must retail for less than either $55,000 or $80,000, depending on vehicle type.
While it will be harder to find a vehicle that qualifies for the federal EV tax credit, the credit itself is much better for consumers in two key ways. First, the credit is now applied when buying the car, meaning you won’t have to wait to claim it on your tax returns.
Second, buyers no longer have to have a tax liability equal to or greater than the amount of the credit — a rule that previously kept a lot of buyers from accessing the credit in the first place. (That said, buyers still have to have certain adjusted gross income to qualify. Here’s a list of FAQs from the IRS.)
Some automakers, like GM, have said they are working on replacing components that are disqualifying their EVs from the credit, so the list could grow as the year goes on. A slew of automakers and suppliers are rushing to build new factories in North America in order to ease the burden in the years to come. But until that happens, here’s the full list of what’s eligible:
Full $7,500 tax credit
Chevrolet Bolt EVChevrolet Bolt EUVChrysler Pacifica PHEVFord F-150 Lightning Extended RangeFord F-150 Lightning Standard RangeTesla Model 3 PerformanceTesla Model Y All-Wheel DriveTesla Model Y PerformanceTesla Model Y Rear-Wheel DriveTesla Model X Long Range
$3,750 tax credit
Ford Escape PHEVJeep Grand Cherokee PHEV 4xeJeep Wrangler PHEV 4xeLincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEVRivian R1S Dual-Motor Large PackRivian R1S Quad-Motor Large PackRivian R1T Dual-Motor Large PackRivian R1T Dual-Motor Max PackRivian R1T Quad-Motor Large Pack
Ask Sophie: Do I qualify for the stateside visa stamping program?
Sophie Alcorn
ContributorSophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives.
More posts from Sophie Alcorn
Ask Sophie: What are the latest H-1B lottery updates?
Ask Sophie: What are the USCIS H-1B lottery and filing fee updates?
Sophie Alcorn, attorney, author and founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley, California, is an award-winning Certified Specialist Attorney in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Sophie is passionate about transcending borders, expanding opportunity, and connecting the world by practicing compassionate, visionary, and expert immigration law. Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn and Twitter.
TechCrunch+ members receive access to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.
Dear Sophie,
I’m working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, which I received in 2022. However, I don’t have an H-1B visa stamp in my passport because I changed my status from an F-1 student to H-1B professional while in the U.S. Although I think I qualify for an interview waiver at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, I haven’t left the U.S. because of the uncertainty of whether I would be granted an interview waiver and the potential delay in returning to my job in the U.S. I heard a new visa stamping program will start in the U.S. soon. Do I qualify?
— Seeking Stamp
Dear Seeking,
Remaining in the U.S. after getting approval for your H-1B specialty occupation visa was the prudent thing to do! We have many clients who, like you, changed their status while in the U.S. and don’t have a visa foil — often called a visa stamp — in their passport. Since COVID, we have often advised individuals to avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary. This has been due to a combination of changing factors such as unpredictable visa appointment wait times and the discretionary waiver process for in-person interviews, which has been extended at least to the end of this year.
So, thanks for your question about the domestic visa stamping pilot program that the U.S. Department of State (DoS), which oversees consular processing for visas and green cards, announced last month in a notice published in the Federal Register.
The pilot program has been substantially scaled back from last year’s initial reports to limit the required resources. At the time, reports indicated that the pilot program would enable both H-1B and L-1 visa holders to renew the visa stamp in their passport while remaining in the U.S. In other words, they could get a visa stamp without having to travel back to their home country and wait for an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The pilot program’s goal
The State Department previously offered stateside visa stamping for many nonimmigrant visa renewals, including E, H, L, and O visas, until October 26, 2004, when the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, which was passed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, required the collection of biometric data from visa applicants. Since then, the DoS has required all visa applicants, except for certain diplomatic and other applicants, to get a visa stamp in their passport at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
“The goal of this pilot,” according to the DoS notice, “is to test the Department’s technical and operational ability to resume domestic visa renewals for specific nonimmigrant classifications and to assess the efficacy of this program in reducing worldwide visa wait times by shifting certain workloads from overseas posts to the United States.”
Do you qualify?
Only those individuals who were issued their H-1Bs within specific dates at a U.S. embassy or consulate in either Canada or India are eligible. Individuals like you who went through the change of status process while in the U.S. are ineligible to participate in this program.
I urge you and other readers to comment on the DoS notice. The DoS is accepting comments from the public through April 15, 2024. All comments will be published publicly for anyone to view, but you can also submit a comment anonymously. Most of the three dozen or so comments that have been submitted so far express dismay that the pilot program is so limited in scope.
Eligibility details
The DoS will begin accepting online applications for the domestic nonimmigrant visa stamping pilot program starting on January 29, 2024. On January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26, the DOS will make 2,000 application slots available to individuals whose most recent H-1B visa was issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada and 2,000 slots for individuals whose most recent H-1B was issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate in India.
Once all the weekly slots are taken, the online portal will close until the following week’s application slots are released. The pilot program will close when either all 20,000 application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first.
Individuals are eligible to participate in the pilot program if they:
Are renewing an H-1B visa issued between January 1, 2020, and April 1, 2023, in Canada or between February 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, in India.Are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance fee, which is also known as a reciprocity fee.Are eligible for an in-person interview waiver, which means they were previously issued any type of nonimmigrant visa except for a B visitor visa; are applying within 48 months of their most recent visa expiration date; and have never been refused a visa — unless that refusal was overturned. Incidentally, the DoS extended the ability of U.S. embassies and consulates to waive the in-person interview for some visas.Already submitted fingerprints to the DoS for a previous visa application.Do not have a “clearance received” annotation for a prior visa. A “clearance received” note means the adjudicating consular officer found an issue that may impact the ability to issue a U.S. visa.Do not have a visa ineligibility that requires a waiver, such as drug or criminal activity or overstaying a visa.Have an approved and valid H-1B petition.Were most recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B status.Have maintained their H-1B status and it has not expired.Intend to reenter the U.S. in H-1B status after a temporary period abroad.
Only principal H-1B visa holders are eligible for the pilot program. Dependents holding H-4 visas are not.
How to apply
I recommend you work with an immigration attorney who can assess whether you qualify to participate in the pilot program and help you apply.
On the DoS domestic renewal of H-1B online portal, applicants must select either Canada or India, where their most recent H-1B visa was issued, and answer the self-assessment questions. Qualified applicants must submit online Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application); pay the $205 nonrefundable, nontransferrable application processing fee; and mail their passports, photos, and other required documents for processing.
According to the DoS notice, the online portal cannot determine whether an individual is eligible to apply for the pilot program. If the DoS determines an applicant does not qualify, the application will be returned or rejected. The processing time is expected to be six to eight weeks from the time an individual’s passport and required documents are received by the DoS. All applications will be processed no later than May 1, 2024.
Don’t forget to submit your comments to the DoS by April 15. After going through the public comments, I’m hopeful that the DoS will soon relaunch an expanded domestic visa stamping program that will be available for all types of work visas, and you’ll be able to travel abroad knowing you can promptly and predictably return to the U.S.!
All my best,
— Sophie
Have a question for Sophie? Ask it here. We reserve the right to edit your submission for clarity and/or space.
The Sophie Alcorn Podcast follows origin stories of the heart. If you’d like to be a guest, she’s accepting applications!
Here are the 5 EVs that qualify for the full federal tax credit in 2024
The U.S. government has revealed the list of electric vehicles that qualify for the full federal tax credit under the newer, more stringent guidelines, and you can count them on one hand. General Motors’ outgoing Chevy Bolt, plus certain variants of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y and Model X are now the only EVs that are eligible for the $7,500 rebate.
Beyond that, certain variants of Rivian’s R1S and R1T, plus a handful of plug-in hybrids, qualify for $3,750. Chrysler’s Pacifica plug-in hybrid was able to stay eligible for the full credit. Otherwise, that’s all.
Until this list was published Monday, the new requirements had many people scratching their heads about what, exactly, would qualify. Even Tesla admitted in its own way that it wasn’t exactly sure.
The reason the list is so anemic is because lawmakers are trying to force the EV supply chain to shift — or at least diversify away — from China to North America in the long run. In the short term, that means automakers who rely heavily on Chinese suppliers, specifically for battery materials and components, are losing eligibility. This is on top of a few other baked-in restrictions, like the fact that the vehicles must be built in North America, and must retail for less than either $55,000 or $80,000, depending on vehicle type.
While it will be harder to find a vehicle that qualifies for the federal EV tax credit, the credit itself is much better for consumers in two key ways. First, the credit is now applied when buying the car, meaning you won’t have to wait to claim it on your tax returns.
Second, buyers no longer have to have a tax liability equal to or greater than the amount of the credit — a rule that previously kept a lot of buyers from accessing the credit in the first place. (That said, buyers still have to have certain adjusted gross income to qualify. Here’s a list of FAQs from the IRS.)
Some automakers, like GM, have said they are working on replacing components that are disqualifying their EVs from the credit, so the list could grow as the year goes on. A slew of automakers and suppliers are rushing to build new factories in North America in order to ease the burden in the years to come. But until that happens, here’s the full list of what’s eligible:
Full $7,500 tax credit
Chevrolet Bolt EVChevrolet Bolt EUVChrysler Pacifica PHEVFord F-150 Lightning Extended RangeFord F-150 Lightning Standard RangeTesla Model 3 PerformanceTesla Model Y All-Wheel DriveTesla Model Y PerformanceTesla Model Y Rear-Wheel DriveTesla Model X Long Range
$3,750 tax credit
Ford Escape PHEVJeep Grand Cherokee PHEV 4xeJeep Wrangler PHEV 4xeLincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEVRivian R1S Dual-Motor Large PackRivian R1S Quad-Motor Large PackRivian R1T Dual-Motor Large PackRivian R1T Dual-Motor Max PackRivian R1T Quad-Motor Large Pack
Ask Sophie: Do I qualify for the stateside visa stamping program?
Sophie Alcorn
Contributor
Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives.
More posts from Sophie Alcorn
Ask Sophie: What are the latest H-1B lottery updates?
Ask Sophie: What are the USCIS H-1B lottery and filing fee updates?
Sophie Alcorn, attorney, author and founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley, California, is an award-winning Certified Specialist Attorney in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Sophie is passionate about transcending borders, expanding opportunity, and connecting the world by practicing compassionate, visionary, and expert immigration law. Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn and Twitter.
TechCrunch+ members receive access to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.
Dear Sophie,
I’m working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, which I received in 2022. However, I don’t have an H-1B visa stamp in my passport because I changed my status from an F-1 student to H-1B professional while in the U.S. Although I think I qualify for an interview waiver at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, I haven’t left the U.S. because of the uncertainty of whether I would be granted an interview waiver and the potential delay in returning to my job in the U.S. I heard a new visa stamping program will start in the U.S. soon. Do I qualify?
— Seeking Stamp
Dear Seeking,
Remaining in the U.S. after getting approval for your H-1B specialty occupation visa was the prudent thing to do! We have many clients who, like you, changed their status while in the U.S. and don’t have a visa foil — often called a visa stamp — in their passport. Since COVID, we have often advised individuals to avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary. This has been due to a combination of changing factors such as unpredictable visa appointment wait times and the discretionary waiver process for in-person interviews, which has been extended at least to the end of this year.
So, thanks for your question about the domestic visa stamping pilot program that the U.S. Department of State (DoS), which oversees consular processing for visas and green cards, announced last month in a notice published in the Federal Register.
The pilot program has been substantially scaled back from last year’s initial reports to limit the required resources. At the time, reports indicated that the pilot program would enable both H-1B and L-1 visa holders to renew the visa stamp in their passport while remaining in the U.S. In other words, they could get a visa stamp without having to travel back to their home country and wait for an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The pilot program’s goal
The State Department previously offered stateside visa stamping for many nonimmigrant visa renewals, including E, H, L, and O visas, until October 26, 2004, when the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, which was passed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, required the collection of biometric data from visa applicants. Since then, the DoS has required all visa applicants, except for certain diplomatic and other applicants, to get a visa stamp in their passport at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
“The goal of this pilot,” according to the DoS notice, “is to test the Department’s technical and operational ability to resume domestic visa renewals for specific nonimmigrant classifications and to assess the efficacy of this program in reducing worldwide visa wait times by shifting certain workloads from overseas posts to the United States.”
Do you qualify?
Only those individuals who were issued their H-1Bs within specific dates at a U.S. embassy or consulate in either Canada or India are eligible. Individuals like you who went through the change of status process while in the U.S. are ineligible to participate in this program.
I urge you and other readers to comment on the DoS notice. The DoS is accepting comments from the public through April 15, 2024. All comments will be published publicly for anyone to view, but you can also submit a comment anonymously. Most of the three dozen or so comments that have been submitted so far express dismay that the pilot program is so limited in scope.
Eligibility details
The DoS will begin accepting online applications for the domestic nonimmigrant visa stamping pilot program starting on January 29, 2024. On January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26, the DOS will make 2,000 application slots available to individuals whose most recent H-1B visa was issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada and 2,000 slots for individuals whose most recent H-1B was issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate in India.
Once all the weekly slots are taken, the online portal will close until the following week’s application slots are released. The pilot program will close when either all 20,000 application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first.
Individuals are eligible to participate in the pilot program if they:
Are renewing an H-1B visa issued between January 1, 2020, and April 1, 2023, in Canada or between February 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, in India.Are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance fee, which is also known as a reciprocity fee.Are eligible for an in-person interview waiver, which means they were previously issued any type of nonimmigrant visa except for a B visitor visa; are applying within 48 months of their most recent visa expiration date; and have never been refused a visa — unless that refusal was overturned. Incidentally, the DoS extended the ability of U.S. embassies and consulates to waive the in-person interview for some visas.Already submitted fingerprints to the DoS for a previous visa application.Do not have a “clearance received” annotation for a prior visa. A “clearance received” note means the adjudicating consular officer found an issue that may impact the ability to issue a U.S. visa.Do not have a visa ineligibility that requires a waiver, such as drug or criminal activity or overstaying a visa.Have an approved and valid H-1B petition.Were most recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B status.Have maintained their H-1B status and it has not expired.Intend to reenter the U.S. in H-1B status after a temporary period abroad.
Only principal H-1B visa holders are eligible for the pilot program. Dependents holding H-4 visas are not.
How to apply
I recommend you work with an immigration attorney who can assess whether you qualify to participate in the pilot program and help you apply.
On the DoS domestic renewal of H-1B online portal, applicants must select either Canada or India, where their most recent H-1B visa was issued, and answer the self-assessment questions. Qualified applicants must submit online Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application); pay the $205 nonrefundable, nontransferrable application processing fee; and mail their passports, photos, and other required documents for processing.
According to the DoS notice, the online portal cannot determine whether an individual is eligible to apply for the pilot program. If the DoS determines an applicant does not qualify, the application will be returned or rejected. The processing time is expected to be six to eight weeks from the time an individual’s passport and required documents are received by the DoS. All applications will be processed no later than May 1, 2024.
Don’t forget to submit your comments to the DoS by April 15. After going through the public comments, I’m hopeful that the DoS will soon relaunch an expanded domestic visa stamping program that will be available for all types of work visas, and you’ll be able to travel abroad knowing you can promptly and predictably return to the U.S.!
All my best,
— Sophie
Have a question for Sophie? Ask it here. We reserve the right to edit your submission for clarity and/or space.
The Sophie Alcorn Podcast follows origin stories of the heart. If you’d like to be a guest, she’s accepting applications!