US to Add 65,000 Seasonal H-2B Guest Worker Visas for 2026
Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration will add approximately 65,000 H-2B seasonal guest worker visas by Sept. 30, the Federal Register notice said, and the visas will be issued to employers who face serious risk of financial hardship due to a U.S. labor shortage.
The move roughly doubles the 66,000 visas offered each year to sectors such as construction, hospitality, landscaping and seafood processing; It is taken into account that US employers in these sectors may have difficulty finding workers.
Republican Trump launched a sweeping immigration raid after returning to the White House in 2025, portraying immigrants without legal status as criminals and a burden on their communities. His administration has also restricted legal forms of immigration through broad travel bans and the review of refugee and asylum cases.
The number of visas available was also expanded during the 2017-2021 presidencies of Democratic former President Joe Biden and Trump.
Employers working in seasonal businesses, including hotels, requested more visas. Some construction businesses have complained about worker shortages amid Trump’s aggressive crackdown on immigrants.
Groups that support lower immigration levels oppose the visas, saying they reduce wages for U.S. workers.
Trump made it harder for tech companies to find workers through the H-1B program and demanded a $100,000 fee, sparking a legal battle.
An interim rule enabling additional H-2B visas will be formally published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the statement said.
