65,000 H-2B Visas Become Available: Should You Apply?

As the current administration prepares for a major transition after the recent election, it continues to make changes to existing immigration policy. One of these final changes is the addition of about 65,000 new H-2B visas for people who want to live and work in the United States. These visas represent a potential legal route into Florida for many temporary workers. Should you apply for one of these H-2B visas in Palm Beach Gardens?

What Is an H-2B Visa? 

Also known as the “Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker” program, the H-2B visa allows you to enter the United States and work here temporarily. As the name implies, this does not apply to agricultural workers, and instead targets other sectors of the economy. The possibilities are effectively endless, and any work that is non-agricultural in nature could lead to an H-2B visa. However, this type of work is often seasonal or temporary. Common examples include:

• Food industry workers
• Janitors and cleaners
• Landscapers
• Resort workers
• Fishing industry workers
• Bartenders

Many of these jobs involve industries that have “peak seasons” with high demand. These peak periods create a temporary need for additional workers, and local Americans may not be able to fill this demand. This explains the logic behind H-2B visas.

An H-2B visa could allow you to stay in the United States for up to three years, and it can be extended in one-year increments. This type of visa may also allow you to bring your family members into the United States while you carry out your temporary work. To learn more about H-2B visas and temporary work opportunities in Florida, be sure to speak with an experienced Palm Beach Gardens immigration lawyer.

DHS and DOL Create Almost 65,000 New H-2B Visa Opportunities 

In November of 2024, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor announced that they had made almost 65,000 new H-2B visas available in the United States. These agencies specifically mentioned work opportunities in hospitality, tourism, landscaping, and seafood processing. It is worth noting that these are all major sectors in Florida, and there may be many temporary work opportunities for new arrivals in the Sunshine State.

20,000 of these visas are reserved specifically for Columbians, Costa Ricans, Ecuadorians, El Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Haitians, and Hondurans.

Can a Palm Beach Gardens Immigration Lawyer Help Me Get a H-2B Visa? 

An immigration lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens may be able to help you pursue an H-2B visa. The fact that immigration authorities have made 65,000 of these visas available may make them easier to obtain than other visa types. That being said, it helps to discuss your unique circumstances with an immigration lawyer before choosing a particular strategy. Other visa types make more sense based on your specific goals and priorities. To continue this conversation in more detail, schedule a consultation with The Devore Law Group today.

Sources: 

uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-dol-make-nearly-65000-additional-h-2b-visas-available-for-fiscal-year-2025

.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2b-temporary-non-agricultural-workers