USCIS Hits Cap for H-2B Worker Visas—20,000 Slots Still Open for Select Countries

For foreign workers eyeing seasonal opportunities in the United States, recent updates regarding the H-2B visa program are crucial. The USCIS has announced that the cap for the additional 19,000 H-2B visas allocated to returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year 2025 has been met as of April 18, 2025.

This means that US employers seeking to hire returning seasonal workers with start dates between April 1 and May 14, 2025, have likely reached the limit for this specific allocation.

What Is the H-2B Visa?

The H-2B visa is a nonimmigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire non-agricultural foreign workers when there are insufficient U.S. workers available. It is commonly used for:

• Hospitality
• Landscaping
• Construction
• Seafood processing
• Amusement and recreation industries

The program is intended to help U.S. businesses fill temporary job vacancies, especially during peak seasons.

20,000 H-2B Visas Still Available for Select Countries

While the returning worker cap has been reached, 20,000 H-2B visas are still available. These are specifically reserved for nationals of:

• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Haiti
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Costa Rica

Unlike the 19,000 returning worker visas, individuals from these countries do not need to meet the returning worker requirement. This carve-out aims to promote legal migration pathways and strengthen regional workforce partnerships.

Also Read: US Expands H-2B Visa Program with 64,716 New Visas for FY 2025

Who Qualifies for an H-2B Visa?

To qualify for an H-2B visa, both the employer and the foreign worker must meet specific eligibility criteria:

For U.S. Employers:

• Must demonstrate a temporary need (seasonal, peak load, intermittent, or one-time occurrence).
• Must prove that no qualified U.S. workers are available.
• Must receive a temporary labour certification from the U.S. Department of Labour.

For Foreign Workers:

• Must be a national of a country eligible for the H-2B program (see list below).
• May apply if previously approved for an H-2B visa in FY 2022, 2023, or 2024 (for the 19,000 cap).
• Workers from the 20,000-reserved countries do not need prior H-2B status.

Countries Eligible for the H-2B Visa Program

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labour and the Secretary of State, annually determines the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2B visa program.

Effective Nov. 8, 2024, nationals of the following countries are eligible to receive H-2A and H-2B visas:

Andorra	Estonia	Madagascar	Saint Lucia
Argentina	The Kingdom of Eswatini	Malta	San Marino
Australia	Fiji	Mauritius	Serbia
Austria	Finland	Mexico	Singapore
Barbados	France	Monaco	Slovakia
Belgium	Germany	Mongolia*	Slovenia
Belize	Greece	Montenegro	Solomon Islands
Bolivia	Grenada	Mozambique	South Africa
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Guatemala	Nauru	South Korea
Brazil	Haiti	The Netherlands	Spain
Brunei	Honduras	New Zealand	St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Bulgaria	Hungary	Nicaragua	Sweden
Canada	Iceland	North Macedonia	Switzerland
Chile	Ireland	Norway	Taiwan***
Colombia	Israel	Panama	Thailand
Costa Rica	Italy	Papua New Guinea	Timor-Leste
Croatia	Jamaica	Paraguay**	Turkey
Republic of Cyprus	Japan	Peru	Tuvalu
Czech Republic	Kiribati	The Philippines*	Ukraine
Denmark	Latvia	Poland	United Kingdom
Dominican Republic	Liechtenstein	Portugal	Uruguay
Ecuador	Lithuania	Romania	Vanuatu
El Salvador	Luxembourg	–	–

Key Takeaway for Potential Workers

While the window for the additional returning worker H-2B visas for the early second half of FY 2025 has closed, significant opportunities remain, particularly for individuals from the seven designated Central and South American countries.

If you are a national of one of these countries and are seeking seasonal work in the US, exploring the H-2B visa could be a viable option.

What Employers Should Know Now

If your business is facing impending irreparable harm due to labour shortages, you may still be eligible to file under this temporary increase, but only if you’re hiring from the 20,000-reserved countries. Otherwise, new petitions under the returning worker allocation will no longer be accepted.

Employers must also ensure that they file Form I-129 and meet all labour certification requirements.

Final Thoughts

While the early second-half cap for returning H-2B workers has been filled, there’s still a significant opportunity for employers and workers from seven eligible countries. The H-2B program remains a critical lifeline for industries facing labour shortages and a valuable legal pathway for foreign workers seeking temporary employment in the U.S.

For the latest updates and application guidance, check the USCIS H-2B Program page.