Freeze on Extra Seasonal Visas Leaves Employers in Limbo

Employers of seasonal guestworkers still operating during the Covid-19 pandemic are navigating labor uncertainty after the Department of Homeland Security said it won’t be releasing previously announced supplemental H-2B visas in the near future.

Demand for Workers: H-2B visas are capped at 66,000 each fiscal year and split evenly between two seasons, but demand has outpaced supply. DHS has approved supplemental visas for the summer season for the last several years.

Potential Solutions: Worker shortages could be a boon to U.S. workers laid off due to the pandemic. Employers that use the H-2B program say that American workers have not ...