The Department of Labor has announced 64,716 additional H-2B visas will be available in Fiscal Year 2026. This is an increase from the 35,000 first proposed in December 2025.

The increase came after intense lobbying by the GCSAA and other seasonal industries.  

The breakdown is as follows:

1. 18,490 additional H-2B Visas for "returning workers" with a start date between Jan. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. Returning workers are those who were granted H-2B status in the last three fiscal years: FY 2023, 2024 or 2025.

2. 27,736 additional H-2B Visas for returning workers with a start date between April 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026.

3. 18,490 additional H-2B Visas for workers with a start date between May 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026.

Unlike previous years, there is no exception from the cap for workers from the "Northern Triangle" countries (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) and Haiti. Visas for those workers will have to come from either the supplemental visas or the 66,000 annual cap.

This remains welcome news. The number of supplemental visas has been increased to the level provided in the last three fiscal years.