US Visa: The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday (November 18) announced plans to make an additional 64,716 H-2B visas available for fiscal year 2025. These visas will be in addition to the 66,000 H-2B visas mandated annually by the US government, which are part of ongoing efforts to address labor shortages in sectors that rely on temporary and non-agricultural workers.
US H2B Visa: The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), announced that it expects to make available an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for fiscal year 2025. This is a temporary non-agricultural worker visa. These visas are in addition to the annual 66,000 visas mandated by Congress (US Parliament) and this is the third consecutive year that companies will have access to all available H-2B visas. These additional H-2B visas are similar to the additional temporary visas provided in fiscal year 2024. This visa program is part of ongoing efforts to address labor shortages in sectors that rely on temporary and non-agricultural workers. However, according to DHS’s updated list of eligible countries, Indian citizens cannot apply for this visa.
What did DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas say?
“By maximizing the use of the H-2B visa program, DHS is helping meet the labor needs of American businesses, keep prices low for consumers, strengthen worker protections, and prevent irregular migration to the United States,” DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement.
The supplemental visas are divided into two categories. There are 20,000 visas for workers from specific countries. These include Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica. At the same time, there will be 44,716 visas for returning workers who held H-2B status in the previous three fiscal years. Supplemental visas will be allocated throughout the fiscal year to meet seasonal labor demand, and additional visas will be reserved for the peak summer season.
What does this mean for companies?
The H-2B visa program is primarily used in industries such as hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing, tourism, construction and forestry. While finding enough U.S. workers can be a challenge, the additional visas mean that employers who rely on these workers can meet customer demand during peak seasons.
To join this visa program, companies must first show that there are no qualified US workers available to fill the positions. This includes obtaining certification from the Department of Labor (DOL) and following strict hiring rules. Detailed information about eligibility, filing requirements, and program safeguards will be available in the temporary final rule, which will be published soon. Companies and employees interested in the program can visit the USCIS H-2B webpage for updates.
Which form is to be filled for application?
The application begins with the employer submitting Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker). This form has to be approved by both the US Department of Labor and USCIS. Applicants can then apply for their visa through the electronic DS-160 form or apply through the interview waiver process.
India excluded from H-2B visa eligibility
According to DHS’s updated list of eligible countries, Indian citizens remain ineligible for H-2B visas. This ban means that citizens of India are barred from applying for H-2B visas, while citizens of countries such as Andorra, Australia, Brazil and Canada are still eligible.
