Summary
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has reached the cap for H‑2B work visas for the latter half of the 2026 fiscal year. The H‑2B visas allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. President Trump doubled the allotment for supplemental H‑2B visas to support businesses relying on seasonal labor.
Key Facts
- USCIS reached the limit for H‑2B work visas for the second half of 2026.
- The H‑2B program allows hiring foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural jobs.
- These visas support industries like hospitality and landscaping needing seasonal workers.
- President Trump increased the H‑2B visa availability through September with additional visas.
- Congress sets an annual cap of 66,000 H‑2B visas, divided equally between halves of the year.
- Once the cap is reached, new petitions for visas in that period are not accepted.
- USCIS offers supplemental visas to address labor shortages beyond the standard cap.
- The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor can issue extra visas to meet labor needs.
