Archive · 9 Jan 2026
US to issue 35,000 extra H-2B visas
The US government is giving out 35,000 extra work visas called H-2B visas for the year 2026.
These visas are for people who want to come to the US to do temporary jobs that are not related to farming.
The jobs are in areas like seafood, forestry, hotels, tourism, transportation, and making things.
The government usually gives out 66,000 of these visas each year, but this year they are giving out a little more.
The extra visas are almost half of what they gave out in the last few years.
The application process for these visas started on January 1, 2026, and the government will tell people if they can get the visa or not.
The visas let people stay in the US for up to 3 years, but after that, they have to leave for 3 months before they can come back.
The US will issue 35,000 additional H-2B visas for FY 2026, on top of the usual 66,000.
These visas are for temporary non-agricultural jobs in sectors like seafood, forestry, hospitality, tourism, transportation, and manufacturing.
The application window for H-2B visas opened on January 1, 2026, for work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later.
The first three days of applications (January 1-3, 2026) were processed randomly to reach the semi-annual visa allotment of 33,000.
The H-2B visa program allows foreign nationals to stay in the US for up to 3 years, with a 3-month mandatory stay outside the US before reapplying.
- Who
- US Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS)
- What
- Announced 35,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for FY 2026
- When
- Fiscal Year 2026, with application window opened January 1, 2026
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To support American businesses with seasonal or temporary workforce needs in critical infrastructure sectors
- Total H-2B visas per fiscal year
- 66,000 (33,000 per half-year)
- Additional H-2B visas for FY 2026
- 35,000
- H-2B visa duration
- Up to 3 years with 3-month mandatory stay outside the US
- H-2B visa application window
- Opened January 1, 2026, for work start dates of April 1, 2026, or later
- Sectors supported by H-2B visas
- Seafood, forestry, hospitality, tourism, transportation, and manufacturing
- H-2B application processing
- Randomized for the first three days (January 1-3, 2026)
- Assignment Group A
- Includes enough worker positions to reach the H-2B semi-annual visa allotment of 33,000
- H-2B applications in Assignment Group A
- 10,062 applications covering 162,603 worker positions