American businesses employ foreign nationals for short-term, non-agricultural jobs in the US under the H-2B program.
H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Visa Program
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, an extra 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas will be available, according to the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS).
The additional visas are in addition to the 66,000 H-2B visas every fiscal year, which are required by Congress. However, compared to FY 2023–2025, the extra 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas represent a roughly 50% decrease in the overall number of supplementary visas issued.
Purpose of the Additional H-2B Visas
The extra H-2B visas are intended to assist American companies that need temporary or seasonal labor in vital infrastructure areas of the U.S. economy, including manufacturing, transportation, forestry, fishing, and hospitality and tourism.
In the next weeks, the Departments anticipate publishing a temporary final rule in the Federal Register that will release these extra H-2B visas, together with any eligibility conditions and filing requirements.
🇺🇸 FY 2026 H-2B Visa Expansion
- Additional Visas: 35,000 temporary nonagricultural visas
- Base Annual Cap: 66,000 visas set by Congress
- Target Sectors: Hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, forestry, fishing
- Administered By: Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security
- Objective: Support seasonal and temporary workforce shortages
H-2B Visa Duration and Stay Rules
American businesses employ foreign nationals for short-term, non-agricultural jobs in the US under the H-2B program. Three years is the maximum duration of stay under the H-2B classification. Before requesting readmission, an individual with H-2B nonimmigrant status for three years must leave the country and remain outside for three months.
As of right now, Congress has set the H-2B ceiling at 66,000 every fiscal year, with 33,000 going to employees who start work in the first half (October 1–March 31) and 33,000 going to employees who start work in the second half (April 1–September 30).
FY 2026 Filing and Application Timeline
On January 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the opportunity for submitting an H-2B Application for Temporary Employment Certification (Form ETA-9142B with appendices) seeking work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later, began.
All H-2B petitions submitted within the first three calendar days, January 1-3, 2026, that seek a work start date of April 1, 2026, will be processed in a random sequence by OFLC.
📄 H-2B Application Processing – April 1, 2026
- Filing Opened: January 1, 2026
- Processing Method: Randomized selection by OFLC
- Assignment Group A: Meets 33,000 semi-annual visa cap
- Total Applications: 10,062 petitions
- Worker Positions: 162,603 jobs requested
OFLC Randomization and Assignment Groups
On January 4, 2026, OFLC finished the randomization procedure and allocated all H-2B petitions in Assignment Group A to National Processing Center analysts for the purpose of issuing Notices of Deficiency or Acceptance. There are enough worker vacancies in Group A to meet the 33,000 H-2B semi-annual visa quota.
Following that, OLFC released the assignment group for 10,062 H-2B petitions covering 162,603 worker jobs with an April 1, 2026 start date. Each employer and their authorized attorney or agent received a notice from OFLC on January 4, 2026, telling them of the Assignment Group for their applications.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the program for H-2B visas?
When American workers are unavailable, the H-2B program enables American firms to recruit foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural occupations.
2. For FY 2026, how many more H-2B visas have been announced?
In addition to the standard 66,000 yearly ceiling, the U.S. government announced an extra 35,000 H-2B visas.
3. Which sectors gain the most from these visas?
Hospitality, tourism, seafood processing, forestry, transportation, and manufacturing are important industries.
4. What is the maximum duration of an H-2B visa?
There is a three-year maximum stay. Before reapplying, the employee must then leave the country for at least three months.
5. When did the April 1, 2026 employment filing period start?
Due to the strong demand, applicants were chosen at random when the filing window started on January 1, 2026.
In conclusion
The goal of the 35,000 extra H-2B visas issued for FY 2026 is to alleviate labor shortages in vital U.S. businesses. The supplementary visas provide significant assistance for seasonal and temporary worker demands while upholding stringent eligibility and processing constraints, albeit being fewer than in prior years.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Please refer to official U.S. government sources for the latest updates.
