An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
The United States will make an additional 35,000 H-2B visas available in fiscal year 2026, a move aimed at easing acute labour shortages in seasonal and temporary non-agricultural sectors while keeping overall controls tight. The decision, jointly confirmed by the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Labor, supplements the long-standing annual statutory cap of 66,000 visas set by Congress.
The H-2B programme allows US employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary roles in industries that face recurring labour gaps, notably hospitality, tourism, seafood processing, forestry, landscaping, transportation and certain types of manufacturing. Workers are typically admitted for short periods tied to seasonal demand, with a maximum cumulative stay of three years, after which they must leave the country before reapplying.
While the additional allocation provides relief to employers ahead of the 2026 summer season, it represents a more cautious expansion than in previous years. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2025, the federal government authorised substantially higher supplemental numbers, responding to post-pandemic labour dislocations and record vacancies. By comparison, the 35,000 additional visas for 2026 amount to roughly half the size of recent top-ups, reflecting a sharper political focus on border control and immigration enforcement.
“Data from the Department of Labor show that demand for H-2B visas routinely exceeds supply within days of applications opening, particularly from the hospitality and leisure sectors”
According to official guidance, details on eligibility criteria and filing requirements will be published shortly through a temporary final rule in the Federal Register. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has already opened the filing window for employers seeking workers with start dates from April 1, 2026, and has completed its annual randomisation process to allocate applications fairly within the semi-annual cap of 33,000 visas for the second half of the fiscal year.
Data from the Department of Labor show that demand for H-2B visas routinely exceeds supply within days of applications opening, particularly from the hospitality and leisure sectors. Industry groups have warned that without access to seasonal foreign labour, businesses face curtailed operations, higher costs and lost revenue, especially in tourist-dependent regions.
At the same time, the scaled-back expansion underscores Washington’s attempt to strike a balance: supporting economic activity while signalling restraint on migration pathways. For employers and prospective workers alike, the 2026 H-2B allocation offers opportunity, but within a tighter and more competitive framework than in recent years.
