USCIS Reaches H-2B Visa Cap for FY2026 Second Half
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the H-2B visa cap for the second half of fiscal year 2026 and set filing dates for additional visas under a temporary expansion.
The H-2B programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal or short-term non-agricultural roles. It is limited to 66,000 visas each year, divided equally between the first half of the fiscal year (October to March) and the second half (April to September).
The cap for the first half of FY 2026 was reached in September 2025. USCIS has now confirmed that 10 March 2026 was the final date for receiving petitions for employment starting between April and September. Petitions submitted after this date will not be accepted.
Alongside the standard allocation, the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Labour, has approved an additional 64,716 visas for FY 2026. This temporary increase was announced in January to help address labour shortages in industries that depend on seasonal workers.
Of these, 46,226 visas are reserved for returning workers who held H-2B status in one of the past three fiscal years. The remaining 18,490 visas are available to new applicants, particularly for employers with hiring needs later in the season, between May and September.
Employers in sectors such as hospitality, landscaping, and construction rely on the H-2B programme to fill positions that are often difficult to staff domestically. At the same time, concerns have been raised that the use of temporary foreign labour may affect wages and reduce incentives to invest in long-term workforce development.
The additional visas are intended to provide short-term flexibility while maintaining the statutory cap. Under current rules, workers can remain in the United States on H-2B status for up to three years. After this period, they must leave the country and remain abroad for at least three months before they can apply again.
