Government Affairs - Detail

USCIS Announces Nearly 25,000 H-2B Visas Still Available

August 13, 2009

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) department has announced that it is reopening availability for nearly 25,000 H-2B visas for 2009. The announcement came late last week, as the Department of State cited a low volume of processed requests for H-2B visas for FY09. Earlier in the year, the USCIS reported that it had received petitions that met the 66,000 cap. However, petitioners only followed through on about 41,000 of those requests, leaving about 25,000 visas open. Those MLA members that seek seasonal help for the remainder of the summer and fall months are encouraged to petition the USCIS before the deadline of September 30. More information about the H-2B visa program is available in the USCIS guide, “How Do I Hire a Foreign National for Short-Term Employment in the United States,” http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/E1eng.pdf or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.