U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B statutory cap for the second half of fiscal year 2026. This means the agency will no longer accept additional H-2B petitions subject to this cap.
The H-2B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary non-agricultural jobs when there are not enough U.S. workers available. Meeting the cap early signals high demand for seasonal and temporary labor positions.
Implications for applicants: Employers and workers who have not yet filed petitions for the second half of the fiscal year should explore cap-exempt options or consider alternative visa categories if possible.
Those planning H-2B sponsorship should monitor USCIS announcements closely for any supplemental cap releases or policy updates in the coming months.