H-2B Visa for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers

H-2B Visa: There is a statutory numerical limit, or “cap,” on the total number of noncitizens who may be issued an H-2B visa or otherwise granted H-2B status during a fiscal year. Currently, Congress has set the H-2B cap at 66,000 per fiscal year, with 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the first half of the fiscal year (October 1 – March 31) and 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 – September 30). Any unused numbers from the first half of the fiscal year will be available for employers seeking to hire H-2B workers during the second half of the fiscal year. However, unused H-2B numbers from one fiscal year do not carry over into the next.

H-2B petitions may only be approved for nationals of countries that the secretary of homeland security has designated, with the concurrence of the Office of the Secretary of State, as eligible to participate in the H-2B program. H-2B visa is usually issued for a period of one year and can be extended by two one-year extensions for a maximum of three years in H2B visa. Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join you in the U.S. for the duration of your stay can apply for an H-4 visa.

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H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers | USCIS

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