United States | H-2B FY 2027 three-day filing window opens Friday, OFLC issues filing tips

The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has provided filing tips for the three-day H-2B filing window for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2027 that opens July 3.

Key takeaways:

July 3 is earliest H-2B filing submission date. The H‑2B filing window for applications requesting an Oct. 1, 2026, start date will open at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 3, 2026, and close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 5, 2026. This is the earliest employers may submit applications for the first half of FY 2027.

Early filings will be denied. Applications filed before the opening of the filing window will be denied. After the window closes, OFLC will randomly assign timely filed applications for processing in accordance with established procedures.

Start dates on and after Oct. 2, 2026.  Employers seeking work start dates of Oct. 2, 2026, or later must follow standard regulatory filing timelines under 20 CFR 655.15(b).

OFLC H-2B filing tips (more details can be found here):

• File one H-2B application per job opportunity.
• Include details about deductions and reasonable cost amounts for board, lodging and other facilities where applicable.
• Submit actual job order or completed job order form.
• Complete Appendix B with original signatures and dates that are current.

Additional information: The H‑2B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs when qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The Oct. 1, 2026, start date corresponds with the beginning of the semiannual visa allotment cap for the first half of FY 2027. OFLC’s reminders emphasize the importance of accurate and complete filings to minimize processing delays during the high-volume cap season and to help ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements before submission.

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

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