US Visa: 64,716 More H2B Visas For 2023

The US has temporarily made available 64,716 additional H2B visas for unskilled foreign workers for fiscal year 2023 so that US businesses can plan for their peak season labor needs.

The visa will allow employers to temporarily hire foreign workers to perform non-agricultural labor or services for a limited period of time, such as a seasonal need, a peak load need, or intermittent need, or a one-time occurrence.

This move by the USCIS does not make any significant impact on Indians as most of them do not opt for it. Most of the Indians generally migrate to the US as highly skilled professionals employed by American companies in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. H1B visas are necessary for such immigrants.

These additional H2B visas are for US employers seeking to petition for other workers at specific periods of the fiscal year before September 15, 2023, it said.

For the first half of FY 2023, there are 18,216 available visas limited to returning workers regardless of nationality. For the April 1 to May 14, there are 16,500 visas available, and for the late 2nd half of FY 2023 (May 15 to September 30), 10,000 permits will be issued, the statement said.