H-2B visa: requirements, seasons and how to land a job
Updated on 7/15/2026
The H-2B is the temporary work visa for seasonal, non-agricultural roles: hotels and resorts, construction, landscaping, amusement parks, food processing. It is the fastest legal entry door for workers without a degree.
It runs on seasons and a cap: the government issues a limited number of visas per fiscal year, split between two halves — which makes timing matter as much as your resume.
Live numbers from official records364,447 jobs with verified sponsorship in the portal · 120,863 employers with government-approved history (DOL) · refreshed daily
Requirements
The real list is short:
- A seasonal job offer from a U.S. employer holding DOL certification for that season — this is the central requirement.
- A valid passport and a clean immigration record (no prior deportations or unlawful presence).
- No degree, formal experience or fluent English required — the English level asked varies by job.
- Willingness to work the season's contract (typically a few months) and return at its end — the H-2B is genuinely temporary.
Seasons and the cap
The H-2B annual cap is set by law at 66,000 visas per fiscal year, half per semester (October–March and April–September) — with supplemental visas released in recent years. In practice: summer jobs get certified in winter, and winter jobs mid-year. Applying early in the right window puts you ahead.
The same employers return every season — resorts, landscaping companies, parks. Getting on a recurring employer's radar is the best H-2B asset: workers who perform well tend to be called back next season.
What the employer pays (and what is a scam)
By program rules, the employer funds the petition and cannot pass recruiting costs to the worker. Charging workers placement fees is prohibited — if someone asks for money 'to secure your H-2B job', that is a program violation and almost always a scam.
Your legitimate costs: the consular visa fee, travel (partially reimbursable per contract) and your documents.
The truth about the green card
The H-2B does NOT lead to a green card — it is a non-immigrant visa, and the consular officer must believe you will return. But it builds what matters most long-term: a clean U.S. visa history, proven experience and employer relationships. Many workers run H-2B seasons while pursuing an EB-3 in parallel with a different employer.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the H-2B visa requirements?
A seasonal offer from a DOL-certified employer, a valid passport and a clean immigration record. No degree or formal experience required — the essential piece is the right job in the right season.
What is the H-2B visa for?
Temporary seasonal work outside agriculture: hospitality, construction, landscaping, parks, food processing. Contracts run for months, with set start and end dates.
Does the H-2B lead to a green card?
No. It is temporary by definition. The no-degree path that ends in a green card is EB-3 Other Workers — and both can run in parallel with different employers.
Is paying for an H-2B job normal?
No — it is prohibited by the program. Employers cannot pass recruiting costs to workers. Being charged for a job is the number-one scam signal.