The United States Department for Homeland Security and Labour has announced that for the first time will grant the maximum number of H-2B visas, following the publication of a rule that permitted such a step to be taken.
It has been confirmed that through the temporary final rule, the number of H-2B visas will nearly double, adding a total of 64,716 visas. These visas will supplement the regular 66,000 annual cap introduced by Congress, VisaGuide.World reports.
“The Department is making supplemental H-2B visas available earlier than ever, ensuring that American businesses can plan for their peak season labour needs,” the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas pointed out in this regard, according to a statement provided by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
He stressed that during a notable job growth, this kind of visa will also contribute to a safe and lawful pathway to the US for all foreigners prepared to be engaged in jobs in the US that are not filled by the latter’s citizens.
The Department of Homelands Security (DHS) back in September confirmed that through this regulation, the country would permit US employers to bring to the United States an additional 64,716 workers engaged in temporary non-agricultural fields to work in this country, apart from the 66,000 H-2B visas that are elected each year.
Through the H-2B visas, internationals are able to come to the United States and work in non-agricultural fields, thus helping the United States fill in the labour shortages noted in many industries.
According to the announcement of the USCIS, the H2-B visas have been divided into several categories:
US employers seeking employees from the following countries: Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Haiti. It has been reported that there are a total of 20,000 H-2B visas for next year.
A total of 18,216 immediately available visas are eligible to returning workers regardless of country nationality for the first half of this year. At the same time, for the second half of the next fiscal year, there are a total of 18,216 immediate visas limited to returning workers regardless of their country of origin.
Regarding the early second half of the next fiscal year, or more specifically for a period between April 1 until May 14, the number of visas dedicated to returning workers regardless of their origin country is 16,500.In addition, employers are also required to file these petitions no earlier than 15 days after the second-half statutory cap is reached.
As for the late second half of next year, 10,000 visas dedicated to returning workers regardless of their origin country will be issued.
The US Department has issued for the first time a single rule, making available additional H-2B visas.
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