Archive · 31 Dec 2025
H-2B Visa Filing Window Opens January 1, 2026
The H-2B visa program allows American companies to hire foreign workers for temporary jobs that are not related to agriculture.
The government has announced that starting January 1, 2026, employers can apply for these visas if they need workers to start on or after April 1, 2026.
There are rules to follow, like not submitting multiple applications for the same job.
The total number of H-2B visas available each year is limited to 66,000, with half for each half of the year.
Workers can stay in the US for up to three years under this visa.
The H-2B visa filing window for work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later opens on January 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The H-2B program allows US employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary non-agricultural jobs.
The maximum stay under the H-2B classification is three years, with a mandatory three-month stay outside the US before reapplying.
Applications requesting an April 1, 2026, work start date will be processed randomly if filed within the initial three calendar days (January 1-3, 2026).
The annual cap for H-2B visas is 66,000, with 33,000 allocated for each half of the fiscal year.
- Who
- US employers and foreign nationals seeking H-2B visas
- What
- Opening of the H-2B visa filing window for work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later
- When
- January 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To hire foreign nationals for temporary non-agricultural occupations
- Filing Window
- January 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time
- Work Start Date
- April 1, 2026, or later
- Maximum Stay
- Three years
- Annual Cap
- 66,000 visas per fiscal year (33,000 per half)
- Randomization Period
- January 1-3, 2026