USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2023
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2023. 12th Sept 2022, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B Worker petitions mentioning a work start date before April 1, 2023. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Sept. 12, 2022, that request an employment start date before 1st April 2023.
First Half of FY 2023 H-2B Cap
USCIS continues to accept H-2B petitions exempt from the legislatively mandated cap. This includes petitions for:
- Current H-2B workers in the United States who expand their visit, change employers, or change the terms of their employment;
- Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians, and supervisors of fish roe processing; and
- Workers performing labor or services in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands as well as Guam from November 28, 2009, until 31st December 2029.
[US Golden Visa undergoes positive changes; ensures easier immigration process]
U.S. businesses utilize the H-2B program to employ foreign workers for temporary nonagricultural jobs. As of now, Congress has set the H-2B cap at 66,000 each fiscal year. With 33,000 for workers who start employment in the first half of the fiscal year (Oct. 1 – March 31) and 33,000 (or more of any unused numbers from the first half of the fiscal year) for workers who start employment in the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 – Sept. 30).
