WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Alliance News): The Trump administration announced on Friday it will make an additional 65,000 H-2B seasonal guest worker visas available through September 30 to assist US employers facing severe labour shortages, according to a notice in the Federal Register.
The move effectively doubles the usual annual allocation of 66,000 visas for industries such as construction, hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing, where businesses have struggled to fill positions amid workforce constraints.
“These additional visas are intended to help employers at risk of severe financial hardship due to a lack of US labour,” the notice stated. The temporary rule making the extra visas available will be formally published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in 2025, has pursued a strict immigration agenda, including tighter controls on legal immigration and broad reviews of asylum and refugee applications.
His policies also include higher fees for the H-1B visa programme, aimed at tech workers, which has faced legal challenges.
The expansion of H-2B visas mirrors actions taken under previous administrations, including during Trump’s 2017–2021 term and under President Joe Biden, in response to labour shortages in seasonal industries.
While the additional visas are welcomed by businesses struggling to fill positions, critics argue that increasing the supply of temporary foreign workers could suppress wages for US workers.
Nevertheless, sectors such as hotels, construction, and landscaping have actively lobbied for expanded access to seasonal visas to maintain operations.
With the influx of additional H-2B visas, employers in affected industries can plan staffing for the spring and summer months, mitigating disruptions in tourism, hospitality, and other labour-intensive sectors. The administration maintains that the measure balances economic needs with immigration policy objectives.
