U.S. Hits Limit on H-2B Visas for Returning Workers in Early 2025
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has reached the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas designated for returning workers in the first half of fiscal year 2025.
This allocation, part of the Temporary Final Rule (TFR) published on December 2, 2024, aimed to address the demand for nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal positions. The final receipt date for petitions under this category was January 7, 2025, and the visas were reserved for workers with start dates on or before March 31, 2025.
“The supplemental cap for returning workers ensures businesses can continue operating during peak seasons while maintaining legal pathways for employment,” USCIS stated.
Despite the cap being met for returning workers, USCIS emphasized that petitions are still being accepted under the country-specific allocation. This includes 20,000 H-2B visas set aside for nationals from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. Workers from these countries are exempt from the returning worker requirement, allowing employers to petition for new workers who meet eligibility criteria.
As of the January 7 deadline, USCIS reported receiving 3,678 petitions for workers under the country-specific allocation. Employers whose petitions were not selected under the returning worker cap have been encouraged to explore this alternative while visas remain available.
For additional information on the supplemental visas and how to apply, petitioners are advised to visit the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2025 page on the USCIS website.
