The US government has announced an expansion of seasonal guest worker visas to address labor shortages in key industries. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the administration of President Donald Trump will make available an additional 65,000 H-2B visas through September 30.
These extra visas are aimed at employers who face serious financial losses due to a lack of workers. The move will nearly double the usual annual cap of 66,000 H-2B visas. Businesses that depend on seasonal labor are expected to benefit the most.
Industries such as construction, hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing rely heavily on temporary workers. Many employers in these sectors have reported difficulty hiring enough staff. The labor shortage has become more visible during the current immigration crackdown.
President Trump returned to the White House in 2025 and quickly introduced tougher immigration policies. His administration has focused on restricting illegal immigration. Officials have also tightened some legal immigration pathways. These steps include travel bans and reviews of refugee and asylum cases.
Despite this strict approach, the US government has recognized the need for seasonal labor. Officials say some businesses could suffer severe harm without access to foreign workers. The temporary visa expansion is designed to prevent such losses.
This is not the first time the H-2B program has been expanded. Similar steps were taken during parts of Trump’s first presidency from 2017 to 2021. The visa cap was also raised under former President Joe Biden.
Employers in tourism-related businesses have strongly supported the decision. Hotels and resorts have warned of staff shortages during peak seasons. Some construction companies have also said projects were delayed due to missing workers.
However, the policy has faced criticism. Groups that support lower immigration levels argue that guest worker visas reduce wages for local workers. They believe the program makes it harder for citizens to compete for jobs.
At the same time, Trump has taken a tougher stance on skilled worker visas. His administration added a $100,000 fee to the H-1B program. This decision has already sparked a legal challenge from technology companies.
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The temporary rule for the additional H-2B visas will be formally published on Tuesday. Once in effect, US employers can begin applying under the expanded quota. The government says the measure balances economic needs with immigration control.
