In a decisive step to alleviate labour shortages across several US industries, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have announced the allocation of an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for the fiscal year 2025.
This addition supplements the existing quota of 66,000 visas mandated by Congress, culminating in a total of over 130,000 H-2B visas available to employers this fiscal year. The H-2B visa program facilitates the hiring of foreign nationals for temporary, nonagricultural positions when qualified domestic workers are not available. Employers must substantiate their temporary labour requirements which may arise from seasonal demand, peak load needs, or other short-term circumstances.
Of the initial quota, 33,000 visas are designated for workers commencing employment in the first half of the fiscal year (October 1 – March 31), with the remaining visas allocated for the second half (April 1 – September 30). The newly authorized visas are particularly aimed at sectors such as hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing, which frequently encounter challenges in sourcing sufficient US labour. In recent years, spanning from 2017 to 2024, DHS and DOL have routinely increased visa availability to help mitigate workforce shortages faced by various businesses.
Within the additional 64,716 visas, approximately 44,700 are set aside for returning workers who have held H-2B status within the last three fiscal years. The remaining 20,000 visas are aimed specifically at applicants from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. Employers wishing to employ H-2B workers must navigate a stringent certification process through the DOL. This process is designed to confirm the absence of qualified US workers and to ensure that the employment of H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of domestic labourers.
The maximum duration for individuals holding H-2B visas is three years. Upon completion of this period, they are required to exit the United States and must remain outside the country for at least three months before they can apply for reentry under the same classification. This expansion of the H-2B visa program represents a critical initiative aimed at supporting US businesses grappling with persistent labour shortages.
