United States | H-2B visa processing times as of July 12

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 July 12, a total of 8,893 cases were issued Final Decisions. Certified positions for this period were allocated for 120,172 workers.

Per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guidance, 64,716 supplemental H-2B visas were allocated for the late second half of FY 2025 (May 15 through Sept. 30) and 5,000 visas were limited to 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, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2025.

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

Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.