The U.S. Immigration Department received 19,000 requests for H-2B visas from people who used to work in the U.S. and want to return.
These visas are specifically for jobs that start between April 1 and May 14, 2024, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2024 TFR). Applicants must apply by April 17, 2024, to obtain one.
USCIS is currently accepting requests for H-2B nonimmigrant workers, including 20,000 visas for workers from specific countries, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.
These workers don’t necessarily need to have worked in the U.S. before. Importantly, these visas are separate from the overall visa limit, meaning they don’t count towards the maximum number of visas available.
So, even if the overall limit has been reached, people from these countries can still apply for these visas.
Starting from April 22, 2024, the U.S. Immigration Department will begin accepting requests for work visas for the later part of the second half of 2024.
These visas are for jobs starting from May 15 to September 30, 2024. 5,000 visas are available for workers who had visas or worked in the U.S. in 2021, 2022, or 2023, regardless of their nationality.
So, if someone worked in the U.S. during those years, they can apply for one of these visas to come back and work again.
Here are the Key Points of H-2B Visa Update: Important Dates and What’s Available Now
- Early second-half visas for returning workers (April-May 2024) are no longer available. These extra visas filled up quickly.
- Visas are still available for workers from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. You don’t need to be a returning worker to apply for these.
- Applications will be accepted for visas for returning workers only (May-September 2024) starting April 22nd. To qualify for these, you must have had an H-2B visa in the past three years.
You can find more details on the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2024 page.
