The U.S. will issue H-2B visas for non-agricultural temporary workers during the 2025 fiscal year, benefiting workers from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in partnership with the Department of Labor (DOL), has announced the allocation of 64,716 additional H-2B visas for non-agricultural temporary workers for the 2025 fiscal year. These will supplement the 66,000 H-2B visas mandated annually by Congress.

These visas are designed to meet the labor needs of U.S.-based businesses in key sectors such as hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing, among others. These industries rely on temporary and seasonal workers to meet the demand for their goods and services.

“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to continuing to grow our nation’s strong economy,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“By maximizing the use of the H-2B visa program, we are helping to meet U.S. businesses’ labor needs, keeping consumer prices low, while strengthening worker protections and discouraging irregular migration to the United States,” he added.

Of the 64,716 additional visas, 20,000 will be reserved for workers from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. The remaining 44,716 visas will be available to returning workers, those who have received an H-2B visa in the past three fiscal years or otherwise acquired H-2B status.

The supplemental visas will be distributed between the first and second halves of the fiscal year, with a portion set aside to address the high demand for workers during the peak summer season.

The H-2B visa program allows employers to hire foreign workers to perform non-agricultural temporary work in the United States, provided that the work is of a temporary nature, involving unique events, seasonal needs, or peak load requirements.

Employers must demonstrate that there are not enough U.S. workers available for these positions and obtain certification. Additionally, they must ensure that employing H-2B workers does not negatively affect the wages or working conditions of local workers.

Photo of Christian Lendl in Unsplash