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H-2B visa groups set for first half

CWS 3.0 - Contingent Workforce Strategies

H-2B visa groups set for first half

Katherine Alvarez
| July 23, 2024
Visa Application

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The US Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification published the assignment groups for H-2B applications requesting an employment start date of Oct. 1, 2024. The visas go to temporary nonagricultural workers; companies using H-2B visas include those in hospitality, tourism, landscaping and seafood processing.

The assignment groups for the 2,158 H-2B applications cover 44,238 worker positions. OFLC completed the randomization process on July 6, and Group A applications were assigned to analysts for review and processing.

“Group A includes enough worker positions to reach the H-2B semi-annual visa allotment of 33,000,” the department stated in its announcement. “One additional Assignment Group was created for the remaining applications and associated worker positions.”

The US Department of Homeland Security previously increased the number of available H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers by 64,716 for federal fiscal year 2024, which began Oct. 1, 2023. This is in addition to the congressionally mandated existing 66,000 H-2B visas available each year — 33,000 for start dates between Oct. 1 and March 31, and 33,000 for start dates between April 1 and Sept. 30.