U.S. Employers Urged to Act Promptly as H-2B Visa Cap Reached
Published: March 2025
Source: USCIS.gov
Summary:
The H-2B visa cap for the second half of fiscal year 2025 has already been met, signaling extremely high demand and limited availability for new employers and applicants.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has reached the statutory cap of 33,000 H-2B visas for the second half of FY 2025 (April 1 to September 30). This marks one of the fastest fills of the cap in recent years, highlighting just how competitive the seasonal job market has become.
Employers are being urged to plan early and act fast when seeking to bring in foreign workers. Delays in filing could mean missing out entirely, as the program’s quota is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
To assist, the USCIS has also released dates for the supplemental visa allotment as authorized by DHS, allowing certain returning workers or nationals from eligible countries to still apply under reserved quotas.
This announcement underscores the urgency for both applicants and employers to be proactive. Agencies working with Caribbean nationals should begin application prep as early as possible.
