USCIS Reaches H-2B Visa Cap for First Half of Fiscal Year 2025

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has reached the H-2B visa cap for the first half of the 2025 fiscal year.

This means no new H-2B visa petitions for temporary nonagricultural workers will be accepted for employment starting before April 1, 2025. The final date for accepting these applications was September 18, 2024.

What is the H-2B Visa?

The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary, nonagricultural jobs when there are not enough qualified American workers to fill these roles.

The H-2B visa is commonly used for industries such as hospitality, construction, and landscaping. The program is capped at 66,000 visas annually, split into two halves:

• 33,000 visas for workers starting between October 1 and March 31 (the first half of the fiscal year).
• 33,000 visas for workers starting between April 1 and September 30 (the second half of the fiscal year).

Also Read: USCIS Announces Key Updates for H-2B Visa Program in 2024

What This Means for H-2B Applicants

The fact that USCIS has reached the H-2B visa cap for the first half of fiscal year 2025 means that any new petitions for H-2B visas that request an employment start date before April 1, 2025, will be rejected. This could have a significant impact on U.S. businesses that rely on H-2B workers to fill temporary positions.

Who is Exempt from the Cap

There are a few exceptions to the H-2B visa cap. These include:

• Current H-2B workers in the United States who extend their stay, change employers, or change the terms and conditions of their employment.
• Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians, and/or supervisors of fish roe processing.  
• Workers performing labor or services in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and/or Guam from November 28, 2009, until December 31, 2029

Also Read: USCIS Extends Green Card Validity to 36 Months: More Time to Wait for Renewal

What U.S. Businesses Should Do

If you are a U.S. business that relies on H-2B workers, you should be aware of the H-2B visa cap and plan accordingly. If you need to hire H-2B workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025, you will need to file your petition early. You can also explore other visa options that may be available to you.

Final Words

This cap has a significant impact on industries relying on seasonal workers, limiting their ability to hire foreign labor until the second half of the fiscal year. Potential applicants and employers should plan accordingly, keeping track of future visa availability to avoid delays.

For further updates, visit the official USCIS H-2B Cap Count page.