H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. There is a cap limit of 33,000 for the first half of the fiscal year and 33,000 for the second half for a total of 66,000 per year. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2026 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (8/12/25). – USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2026

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2026 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (8/26/25); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, USCIS announced that it has reached the H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2026. September 12, 2025 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2026. The “final receipt date” is the date on which USCIS determined that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of H-2B workers for the first half FY2026. USCIS continues to accept petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated H-2B cap.

For more detailed information about this subject please review the USCIS News Alert, “USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2026“.

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