US reaches H-2B visa cap for first half of fiscal 2027
Key Points(5)
- immigration authorities have received enough petitions to reach the H-2B visa cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027, closing the regular application window for employers seeking additional temporary foreign workers for jobs starting before April 1.
- Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that Sept.
- 4 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2027.
- Any new cap-subject petitions received after Sept.
- 4 for workers with start dates before April 1 will be rejected, the agency said.
U.S. immigration authorities have received enough petitions to reach the H-2B visa cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027, closing the regular application window for employers seeking additional temporary foreign workers for jobs starting before April 1.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that Sept. 4 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2027.
Any new cap-subject petitions received after Sept. 4 for workers with start dates before April 1 will be rejected, the agency said.
The H-2B program allows U.S. employers who meet specific requirements to hire foreign nationals for temporary nonagricultural jobs when there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified and available to perform the work.
The visas are commonly used by employers in industries with seasonal labor needs, including hospitality, landscaping, construction and seafood processing.
Congress has established an annual H-2B visa cap of 66,000, generally divided equally between the two halves of the fiscal year. The first 33,000 visas are available for workers beginning employment between Oct. 1 and March 31, while the remaining allocation is for employment beginning between April 1 and Sept. 30.
Demand for the program has frequently exceeded the number of visas available, making the H-2B program an important source of temporary employment in the United States for workers from several countries, including Caribbean nations.
USCIS also reminded U.S. and H-2B workers that suspected fraud, abuse and other potential violations involving the program can be reported through the agency's online tip form.
