USCIS Reaches H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Cap for FY 2015

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 2, 2015, that it had reached the congressionally mandated H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker cap of 66,000 visas for fiscal year (FY) 2015. March 26, 2015, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before October 1, 2015.

USCIS noted that employers may file petitions up to 120 days before the employment start date. USCIS therefore will reject new H-2B petitions filed more than 120 days before the employment start date.

USCIS will continue to accept H-2B petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated cap. This includes petitions filed on behalf of the following beneficiaries:

• H-2B workers in the United States or abroad who have been previously counted toward the cap in the same fiscal year;
• Current H-2B workers seeking an extension of stay;
• Current H-2B workers seeking a change of employer or terms of employment;
• Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians and/or supervisors of fish roe processing; and
• H-2B workers performing labor or services from November 28, 2009, until December 31, 2019, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and/or Guam.

See also Additional information on the H-2B program