The U.S. government announced a significant increase in the number of seasonal guest worker visas available for 2026, adding roughly 65,000 H-2B visas to help employers struggling with labor shortages. The move, detailed in a Federal Register notice by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor, will make these visas available through September 30, 2026, in an effort to support industries that rely heavily on temporary workers.
Seasonal Work Visas Expanded
Under U.S. immigration law, H-2B visas allow employers to hire foreign nationals temporarily for non-agricultural jobs when there are not enough U.S. workers available.
Traditionally capped at 66,000 per fiscal year, the base number of seasonal guest worker visas is often reached quickly due to high demand in sectors such as construction, hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing, and other labor-intensive industries. This announcement nearly doubles the number of guest worker visas that can be used in 2026 to address pressing workforce gaps.
The supplemental visa increase is designed to help businesses “at risk of severe financial hardship” if they cannot fill needed positions with workers, a condition employers must attest to in visa petitions.
Why the Expansion Was Announced
Employers across the U.S. have repeatedly reported difficulty finding workers for short-term roles crucial to peak-season operations. Construction firms, hotels, and landscaping businesses have all cited a lack of available domestic labor as a key challenge. The additional H-2B visas aim to ease those shortages and prevent significant economic disruption in segments of the economy that depend on temporary workers.
How the Additional Visas Will Be Allocated
According to detailed reports, the roughly 65,000 supplemental visas will be released in three separate allocations to give employers flexibility in addressing workforce needs throughout the year. The distribution plan typically includes visas for returning workers who have previously held H-2B status and slots for new applicants who will fill jobs from spring through fall.
Of the expanded visas, a significant portion is reserved for “returning workers”, those who held H-2B status in recent fiscal years, while the remaining visas are available to workers regardless of prior status. This allocation structure helps employers planning for both early and peak-season labor demands.
Support and Opposition
Industry groups representing hotels, resorts, and seasonal businesses welcomed the supplemental visas, saying they are critical to maintaining service levels and avoiding financial losses during major tourism and peak-work periods. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) issued a statement praising the release of the visas and urging long-term reforms to the H-2B program to better support both workers and U.S. businesses.
However, critics of expanded guest worker programs argue that increasing the number of visas can put downward pressure on wages and potentially displace U.S. workers in the industries that rely on temporary foreign labor. These debates are expected to continue as the supplemental visas are issued and used throughout the year.
Looking Ahead
The release of these additional H-2B visas for 2026 represents one of the most substantial increases in seasonal guest worker slots in recent years. How this influx affects labor markets, industry operations, and broader immigration policy discussions will be closely watched as employers begin to file petitions and bring workers to the U.S. for the peak employment season.
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Resources:
https://www.geo.tv/latest/648161-trump-admin-to-release-65000-extra-seasonal-worker-visas-for-2026?
https://www.ahla.com/news/ahla-issues-statement-release-supplemental-h-2b-visas
https://www.thenews.pk/story/1396336-us-expands-h-2b-visas-for-2026-as-labour-shortages-bite
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