U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has reached the cap for the first allocation of 18,490 H-2B visas under the FY 2026 Supplemental Cap Temporary Final Rule. This allocation is designated for returning workers with employment start dates between January 1 and March 31, 2026.
Due to the high demand, USCIS conducted a random selection lottery on February 13, 2026, for petitions submitted during the first five business days of filing. Premium processing for selected petitions commenced after the lottery.
Key Details:
- Total H-2B visas available: 18,490
- Employment start dates: January 1 – March 31, 2026
- Lottery date: February 13, 2026
- Premium processing began post-selection
This announcement indicates that demand for H-2B visas continues to significantly exceed availability, prompting employers to carefully consider their filing strategies and timelines for future allocations.
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Source: Michele Voss Contreras