DHS and DOL have issued a rule that adds “64,716 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the fiscal year 2023”.

• Approximately 44,700 of these visas are for returning H-2B visa holders or those who were granted this status during the last three financial years.

• 18,216 visas are allocated for the first half of 2023 fiscal year for returning workers. Employers may begin filing on December 15, 2022, requesting employment start dates on or before March 31, 2023.
• 16,500 visas are allocated for the early second half of 2023 fiscal year (April 1, 2023 – May 14, 2023) for returning worker. “{E}mployers must file these petitions no earlier than 15 days after the second half statutory cap is reached{,}” with employment start dates ranging from April 1, 2023 to May 14, 2023.
• The remaining 10,000 visas will be available for the late second half of 2023 fiscal year (May 15, 2023 – September 30, 2023) for returning workers. “{E}mployers must file these petitions no earlier than 45 days after the second half statutory cap is reached{,}” with employment start dates ranging from May 15, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

• Remaining 20,000 visas are allocated exclusively for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, regardless of whether they held this status in the past or not. Employers may file requests for workers from these countries throughout the entire 2023 accounting year.

Original article can be found here.