DHS, DOL outline supplemental H-2B visa allocation

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials said 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas are available during the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2022.

“These additional H-2B visas will help employers meet the demand for seasonal workers at this most critical time when there is a serious labor shortage,” DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said. “The visas are accompanied by significant worker protections and provide a safe and lawful pathway for individuals to come to the United States and earn wages in jobs that are not filled by American workers.”

Via the H-2B program, employers are permitted to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States, per officials. The guidance stipulates employment must be for a limited period of time, including a one-time occurrence, seasonal or intermittent need, according to DHS.

The visas are for domestic employers seeking to employ additional workers on or after April 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2022. The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 23,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years.

Officials noted that 11,500 visas are reserved for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti nationals, regardless of whether they are returning workers.