United States | H-2B visa processing updates as of Aug. 2

Update on applications received for requested date of need from April 1, 2025 (fiscal year (FY) 2025 second half of the visa cap):

The Department of Labor reported that as of Aug. 2, a total of 8,928 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 120,470 workers.

Additional Information: Per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 64,716 supplemental H-2B visas were allocated for the entire fiscal year. Of that total, 5,000 visas were limited to May 15 through Sept. 30 start dates for returning workers who were issued H-2B visas or held H-2B status in FYs 2022, 2023 or 2024, regardless of country of nationality.

These late second half of FY 2025 petitions must request employment start dates from May 15 through Sept. 30, 2025.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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