The H-2B visa is similar to the H-1B visa since the H-2B nonimmigrant work visa also provides a method for U.S. employers to obtain the services of foreign nationals to fill temporary needs of the business or corporation. The H-2B visa, however, has many stringent requirements that must be met prior to filing, which is the main reason for its underuse.
One of the most significant restrictions on the H-2B category is the requirement that the need for the foreign worker be temporary. There are four situations in which there is a temporary need for workers: recurring seasonal need, intermittent need, peak-load need, and need based on a one-time occurrence. It is this requirement that makes this visa category so rarely used. Not only must the employer promise to employ the worker for a limited period of time, the employer must attest that its need for the worker is temporary.
Another cumbersome requirement of the H-2B visa is the requirement that a labor certification be approved prior to filing the visa petition. The Department of Labor must determine that there are no unemployed, qualified U.S. workers available for the position in the area of the proposed employment, and that employment of the foreign national will not adversely affect the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers. The employer must also conduct a recruitment campaign to prove that there are no qualified willing and able U.S. workers for the position.
Although the process to obtain an H-2B visa can be lengthy, there are many benefits in having an H-2B visa. A person can enter the U.S. for temporary work and enjoy all employee benefits. H-2B visa holders can bring dependents to the U.S., travel freely in and out of the U.S., and a new petition can be approved if there is a need to change jobs.
The H-2B work visa was created to allow people to come to the United States temporarily, mainly for non-agricultural jobs, for which the U.S. workers are in short supply. Up to 66,000 H-2B visas are issued every year. Although the quota has been reached for the 2007 year, it is never too early to begin thinking of applying for this visa next year, which actually begins on October 1, 2007. If you are interested in obtaining more information on this visa, please contact us.
