#FY2025

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USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2025: What Employers Should Know

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially reached the cap for the H-2B visa program for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025. This means that the maximum number of H-2B visas, which allow U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary non-agricultural work, has been met.

Understanding the H-2B Cap

Each fiscal year, Congress sets a cap of 66,000 H-2B visas, with 33,000 allocated for jobs starting in the first half of the year (October 1 to March 31), and 33,000 for the second half (April 1 to September 30). Once the cap is reached, USCIS stops accepting H-2B petitions for that period.

What Happens Now?

With the cap for the first half of FY 2025 met, employers who wish to hire H-2B workers will need to wait until the second half of the fiscal year to submit new petitions. There are exceptions, such as petitions for returning H-2B workers or those employed in certain territories like Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which do not count toward the cap.

What Employers Can Do Next

Prepare for the next filing period: Employers can begin preparing petitions for the second half of FY 2025, as demand for H-2B visas often exceeds supply.

Explore other visa options: If your labor needs are urgent, consider alternative visa programs like H-2A for agricultural workers or other temporary work visa categories.

Conclusion

Reaching the H-2B cap highlights the strong demand for temporary foreign workers across industries like landscaping, hospitality, and construction. Employers affected by the cap should stay updated on the latest USCIS announcements and prepare for future filing windows to meet their workforce needs.

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One month left

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We'll see on this one

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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5050725-house-gop-government-funding-three-bills/

House GOP eyes plan C that cuts Trump debt ceiling demand

by Mychael Schnell and Emily Brooks - 12/20/24 11:30 AM ET

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CRS Report R48176

FY2025 Appropriations Status: In Brief

An update from the Congressional Research Service posted on Sept. 30th, the end of the Fiscal Year.

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Here it is, our current hope to avert a shutdown. This would extend FY2024 spending until December 20th, setting us up for a Christmas showdown in a lame duck session of what has been one of the worst sessions of Congress in our history.

Also included in this CR are multiple extensions of expiring programs and waivers as well as a compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau. It's relatively short reading if you have the time.

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Homeland Security bill roll call

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Defense appropriations passes the House

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eleventh of twelve

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The budget resolution, which usually is supposed to be passed first.

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Late morning Update - 06.28.2024

Looks like we will have a lot of action today, now that the Congressional Record for yesterday has been posted.

Today the House will complete work on :

Defense Dept Appropriations (H.R.8774)

Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R.8752)

State/Foreign Ops Appropriations (H.R.8771)

The House Appropriations Committee will be holding subcommittee votes on:

Interior & Environment Appropriations

Energy & Water Appropriations

On Thursday, the House reported the budget resolution for FY2025, which I will post shortly. If all passes, by the end of the day all 12 appropriations bills will be firmly in the pipeline as June comes to a close.

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Second, we have Labor, Health and Human Services, Education.

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First up, we have the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations. This made some news for its lack of defunding special prosecutors.

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Back from a short vacation

Catching up on the action:

Three bills were released by Appropriations and passed their subcommittees by voice vote, press releases coming

The Homeland Security bill is currently on the floor, as is State/Foreign Ops

Two appropriations bills are still waiting, Energy & Water and Interior and Environment.

And I think that's it. Am I missing anything?