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H-2BWork VisasReviewed 2026-07-14Timeline 2026-07

H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visa: requirements, process and fees

H-2B allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary non-agricultural jobs — such as hospitality, landscaping, or seafood processing — when qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The program has an annual numerical cap and requires a temporary labor certification from DOL before the USCIS petition.

Quick answer · H-2B

The short version

H-2B allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary non-agricultural jobs — such as hospitality, landscaping, or seafood processing — when qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The program has an annual numerical cap and requires a temporary labor certification from DOL before the USCIS petition.

Who this visa is for

A strong fit if

  • Employers with one-time, seasonal, peak-load, or intermittent non-agricultural needs
  • Workers from eligible countries ready to fill certified temporary roles
  • Businesses prepared for recruitment, wage, and cap-season timing constraints

Probably not if

  • Employers with permanent year-round needs
  • Agricultural employers (consider H-2A)
  • Workers seeking unrestricted U.S. employment beyond the certified job

Requirements

Eligibility, in plain language

You usually need to satisfy each of these points. Missing one does not always mean denial — but it does mean you should get case-specific advice before filing.

  1. 01Temporary need meeting one of the recognized H-2B standards
  2. 02Employer recruitment showing insufficient U.S. workers
  3. 03DOL temporary labor certification
  4. 04Worker nationality on the eligible-country list unless an exception applies

Risk patterns

Common denial reasons

  • Temporary need not proven
  • Cap limits reached for the half-year period
  • Labor certification or recruitment defects
  • Petition evidence inconsistent with the certified job

Avoidable problems

Mistakes applicants make

  • Missing semi-annual cap filing windows
  • Recasting permanent roles as temporary on paper only
  • Confusing H-2B with uncapped H-2A
  • Assuming supplemental cap allocations will always appear

From start to finish

Step-by-step process

A practical sequence of what usually happens — not a substitute for form instructions.

  1. 1

    Establish temporary need and begin DOL certification

    Several weeks

    Document seasonal or peak-load facts, complete required recruitment, and seek labor certification.

  2. 2

    File Form I-129 within cap constraints

    Cap-sensitive

    After certification, file with USCIS while numbers remain available for the relevant half-year period.

  3. 3

    Workers obtain visas and enter for the job

    Weeks after approval

    Consular processing follows petition approval. Employment is limited to the certified employer and dates.

  4. 4

    Complete the temporary period or pursue limited extensions

    Generally up to 1 year initially, with capped total stay

    Extensions may be possible, but total consecutive stay limits and departure requirements apply.

What it costs

Government filing fees

Amounts can change. Treat these as a planning baseline and confirm on the official fee schedule before you pay.

FeeAmountUsually paid by

Form I-129 filing fee

Confirm current fee.

$460employer

MRV visa fee

$205applicant

Recruitment and compliance costs

Variesemployer

Paperwork

Document checklist

Tap each item as you collect it. Every document includes why officers usually want it.

Check items off as you gather them. Progress stays on this device only.

0/4 ready

Time & validity

Processing timeline

Timelines vary by service center, embassy, and petition history. Use these ranges to plan — not as guarantees.

Timeline as of 2026-07Reviewed 2026-07-14

H-2B timing is driven by semi-annual cap seasons as well as DOL and USCIS processing. When demand exceeds available numbers, some employers wait for additional allocations or the next filing period. Start early and build contingency plans for peak seasons.

Validity period

Usually matches the certified temporary period, commonly up to one year, subject to extension and total-stay limits.

Extensions & renewal

Extensions may be available in increments toward a maximum consecutive stay, after which departure is typically required before returning in H-2B status.

Living with this status

Work, travel, and family

Employment rights & limits

Authorization is employer- and job-specific. Workers generally cannot freelance or freely change employers without new authorized petitions.

Travel considerations

Travel requires valid visa documentation and continuing authorization tied to the temporary petition.

Family & dependents

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may seek H-4 status. H-4 dependents may study but generally cannot work.

Practical guidance

Tips from common cases

Patterns applicants and practitioners talk about often — not individualized legal advice.

Did you know?

Congress sets an annual H-2B cap of 66,000 visas, split across fiscal-year halves, with occasional supplemental allocations.

Did you know?

H-2B is for non-agricultural work; agricultural temporary work generally belongs under H-2A.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the H-2B annual cap?+

Generally 66,000 per fiscal year, split between the first and second halves of the year. Supplemental numbers are sometimes authorized separately.

What jobs use H-2B?+

Common examples include hospitality, landscaping, forests support, amusement parks, and seafood processing — if temporary need is proven.

How is H-2B different from H-2A?+

H-2A is agricultural and uncapped numerically. H-2B is non-agricultural and capped.

Can status be extended?+

Limited extensions may be available, but total consecutive stay is capped and usually followed by a required departure period.

Compare options

Similar pathways can look close on paper. These notes help you branch to the better fit.

After you have H-2B status

Getting the visa is the first half. These guides cover the money side of actually settling in — payroll, tax residency, credit, and sending money home.

Official source & disclaimer

Primary government reference for this guide:

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2b-non-agricultural-workers

Last reviewed . Processing times last checked .