Informational content, based on official sources from the Department of Labor, USCIS and the Department of State. Rules and amounts change; always confirm with the official sources. H2A Works does not sell jobs or guarantee hiring or a visa.
What is the H-2B visa
The H-2B is the United States visa for temporary or seasonal work outside agriculture. It is requested by the employer, who shows the Department of Labor a temporary need for labor and a lack of available American workers. The selected foreign worker receives the visa for that job, for a set period.
Common sectors: landscaping, hospitality (housekeeping, general services), restaurants, construction, parks and ski resorts, and food processing. For farm work the visa is the H-2A. See H-2A or H-2B.
Annual cap and start dates
Unlike the H-2A, the H-2B has an annual cap of 66,000 visas, split into two halves of the fiscal year (start dates from October to March, and from April to September). Because demand usually exceeds the cap, not every posted job becomes a visa. In some years the government releases extra visas; confirm the current situation with USCIS.
How the process works, start to finish
- Employer. Obtains certification from the Department of Labor and publishes the job order.
- Application. You send a resume and a message in English to the job contact.
- Selection. The decision to hire is the employer's.
- USCIS petition. The employer requests approval of the selected workers, within the annual cap.
- Consular process. With the petition approved, you fill out the DS-160 and do the interview at the consulate.
- Travel and work. You travel according to the formal instruction and fulfill the contract.
No one can guarantee hiring or visa approval. Confirm the current rules with USCIS.
How to find and verify jobs
The official job orders are on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov. On H2A Works you see H-2B jobs organized by state and by role. Keep the case number to confirm the job on the official portal and use the job verifier.
Pay, costs and reimbursements
You do not pay to be hired. Employers and recruiters may not charge workers recruitment fees. The minimum wage is the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area (or the legal minimum, if higher), and the exact amount is in the job order.
The program rules provide for the employer to reimburse costs such as visa fees and, under certain conditions, the trip there and back. The contract also includes a guarantee of work hours. Check the details in the job order.
Housing, transport and hours
In the H-2B, the employer is not required to provide housing, unlike the H-2A. Some jobs offer lodging or help, others do not; you may have to cover rent and transport. Read the job order and ask before accepting.
Duration, extensions and limits
Each contract has a start and end date, generally up to nine months, and total time in H-2B status is limited to three years, with a mandatory period outside the US afterward. Confirm the current rule with USCIS.
Rights and how to avoid scams
H-2B workers are entitled to the required wage, pay statements, protection against retaliation and the reimbursements the rules provide, among other things. See your rights (the article is about H-2A, but many rights apply to H-2B too).
Be wary of charges for a job, promises of a guaranteed visa and payment to an individual. Read the signs of a scam.
Next steps
- Explore H-2B jobs by state.
- Compare with H-2A jobs if you are open to farm work.
- Get answers in the frequently asked questions center.
- Create your free account to apply from your Gmail.