The federal government has announced the release of nearly 65,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the fiscal year 2025. This move aims to support employers who are struggling to find qualified U.S. workers for their businesses.
The H-2B program is utilized by employers needing workers for temporary nonagricultural roles in sectors such as hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing, and construction. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have published a final rule permitting this increase in the Federal Register.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, "There are employers across the country that would suffer greatly without H-2B workers." He added that authorizing these visas helps fill positions, fuels the economy, and provides a lawful pathway to work in the United States.
The allocation of 64,716 additional visas is the maximum allowed by Congress and continues a pattern since FY 2017, except for FY 2020 due to COVID-19-related disruptions. Of these visas, about 44,700 are designated for returning workers from previous years regardless of nationality. The remaining 20,000 are reserved for nationals from specific countries including Colombia and Guatemala.
These supplemental visas are divided into four allocations throughout FY 2025:
1. First half (Oct. 1 - March 31): 20,716 visas available immediately for returning workers.
2. Early second half (April 1 - May 14): 19,000 visas for returning workers.
3. Late second half (May 15 - Sept. 30): 5,000 visas for returning workers.
4. Entirety: 20,000 visas reserved for specified nationalities.
Employers must attest that they face irreparable harm without these workers and demonstrate a temporary need through certification from DOL that no sufficient U.S. workforce is available.
