H-2B Visa: Temporary Non-Farm Work in the United States

The H-2B covers non-agricultural jobs where the employer's need is temporary. Common industries include:

• Landscaping and groundskeeping
• Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and ski areas
• Seafood and crab processing
• Amusement parks and carnivals
• Forestry and some construction

The employer must show that its need is one of four types: a one-time occurrence, seasonal, peakload (a short-term rise in work), or intermittent.

As a worker, you generally need:

• A job offer from a US employer with an approved temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL)
• Nationality of a country on the list DHS publishes each year of countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B, unless USCIS approves an exception
• The experience the job requires (no degree is needed)
• An intent to return home after the job

For farm work, see the H-2A visa, which has no cap.

Congress limits new H-2B workers to 66,000 per fiscal year:

Demand is usually higher than the cap, so it is often reached quickly, especially for summer jobs. In some years, DHS and DOL have released extra (supplemental) visas under temporary authority from Congress. The amount and conditions change each year, so check the USCIS H-2B page for current cap news.

Some workers do not count against the cap, such as current H-2B workers who extend their stay or change employers, and certain workers in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

DOL's Wage and Hour Division enforces worker protections. Your employer must:

• Pay at least the highest of the DOL prevailing wage or the federal, state, or local minimum wage
• Offer work for at least three-fourths of the hours promised over the contract period
• Pay or reimburse your inbound travel and visa costs under DOL rules, and pay your return travel if you finish the job or are dismissed early
• Provide required tools, supplies, and equipment for free
• Give you a copy of the job order in a language you understand
• Not charge you, directly or through a recruiter, any recruitment fee

Unlike H-2A, H-2B employers do not have to provide housing, though some do. Ask before you accept a job. If anyone asks you to pay for an H-2B job offer, read our scam protection guide.

• You are admitted for the period on the labor certification, which is usually less than a year.
• Extensions are possible in steps of up to 1 year, with a new certification.
• The maximum total stay is 3 years. After that, you must leave the United States for an uninterrupted period before you can return in H-2B status. USCIS explains the current rules on its H-2B page.

You can only work for the petitioning employer, in the job and location listed. A new H-2B employer can hire you after it gets its own labor certification and files a petition.

Family: your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come on H-4 visas. They cannot work.

Once USCIS approves the petition, you apply for the visa at a US embassy or consulate. Bring:

• Your passport and DS-160 confirmation page
• The USCIS approval notice number (your employer or its agent gives you this)
• A copy of your job offer or contract
• Proof of past work experience the job requires
• If you worked on an H-2B visa before, evidence that you returned home on time

Answer questions about the job, the employer, and how you were recruited clearly and truthfully. Tell the officer if anyone charged you a fee. See our visa interview guide for more tips.

Employers can read our H-2B employer guide and industry pages for hospitality and construction.

Employers file with DOL several months before the start date, then file Form I-129 with USCIS once certified. Check the USCIS processing times tool. After approval, you need a visa appointment; check global visa wait times for your consulate.

Travel ban: since January 1, 2026, Proclamation 10998 blocks all visas, including H-2B, for nationals of the 19 fully restricted countries. H-2B is not among the categories restricted for the 20 partially restricted countries.

The H-2B is not a path to a green card and requires you to keep a home abroad. A separate, permanent job offer can sometimes support an EB-3 green card through PERM labor certification.

Common refusal reasons:

• The cap was reached before the petition was filed
• The employer's need does not look truly temporary
• Your nationality is not on the eligible countries list and no exception applies
• Past overstays, unauthorized work, or a record of not returning home after earlier H-2B jobs
• Inconsistent information about your job or recruiter

If you have had immigration problems before, speak with a licensed immigration lawyer before applying.