The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has reached the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas allocated for returning workers during the first half of fiscal year 2025.
Petitions for these visas, which allow nonimmigrant workers to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs, were accepted until January 7, 2025. These visas covered positions with start dates on or before March 31, 2025, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2025 TFR).
While the returning worker allocation is now full, USCIS is still accepting petitions for the additional 20,000 H-2B visas designated for nationals of specific countries, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. These visas remain available, and USCIS reports that, as of January 7, 2025, it has received petitions for 3,678 workers under this country-specific allocation.
The FY 2025 TFR, which came into effect on December 2, 2024, increased the total number of H-2B visas available for the fiscal year. Petitioners whose workers were not accepted under the 20,716 returning worker allocation are encouraged to apply under the country-specific allocation while visas remain.
The H-2B visa program aims to address temporary labor shortages in industries such as hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing. Employers are urged to consult the USCIS website for more details on the FY 2025 supplemental visa program and to stay informed about available options.
 announced it has reached the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas.){kind=link}