64,716 Additional H-2B Visas for 2025: Boosting Seasonal Workforce and Reducing Irregular Migration
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced an increase in H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.
- American businesses, especially in sectors like hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing, rely on H-2B workers to meet seasonal demands.
- DHS will announce these supplemental visas early in FY 2025.
DHS Increases H-2B Visa Availability for FY 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced an increase in H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. An additional 64,716 H-2B visas will be available. This is in addition to the standard 66,000 H-2B visas.
American businesses, especially in sectors like hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing, rely on H-2B workers to meet seasonal demands. The extra visas will help address labor shortages where U.S. workers are few.
DHS will announce these supplemental visas early in FY 2025. This timing allows businesses to plan their workforce needs. DHS and DOL have established protections to ensure that employers first seek U.S. workers, preventing exploitation of H-2B workers.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the importance of this move for the economy. The increase in H-2B visas helps meet labor demands, keeps prices stable for consumers, and supports worker protections.
The allocation includes 20,000 visas for workers from specific countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, or Costa Rica. There will also be 44,716 visas for returning workers who held H-2B status in the past three fiscal years. This allocation will be spread over the year, with part reserved for the summer peak season.
The H-2B program allows employers to hire noncitizens for temporary nonagricultural work. Employers must prove there aren’t enough U.S. workers for the job and that hiring H-2B workers won’t negatively impact U.S. wages or conditions. Workers can stay for a maximum of three years, after which they must leave for three months before reapplying.
DHS and DOL are dedicated to preventing exploitation and abuse of H-2B workers. They have strict rules to ensure U.S. workers are considered first.
Further details about H-2B program requirements and protections will be available in the upcoming temporary final rule and on the USCIS webpage.