The H-2B is a seasonal work visa for employees who do not work in agriculture. These are often used by hotels, tourist spots, construction, and other industries that have peak seasons where they need extra workers they cannot find.
Note: The rules about H-2B country eligibility have changed over time. Do not rely on old lists of eligible countries; review the current official USCIS guidance before treating nationality as settled.
🕐 There is an annual cap on H-2B visas of 66,000, half available in the first half of the fiscal year (Oct. 1 - March 31), and half available in the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 – Sept. 30). They allow filing for Department of Labor (DOL) certification 90 days before the start date. Therefore, you may need to plan far ahead or wait until the next available date.
ℹ️ These days, it is possible that there will be a lottery for applicants, so you have to make sure to have everything lined up by this date.