- American employers face severe labor shortages in seasonal industries.
- The additional visas are intended to avoid financial difficulties for companies.
- Tech sector hit by $100,000 H-1B fee amid stricter rules.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s administration will add about 65,000 H-2B visas for seasonal guest workers through Sept. 30, according to a Federal Register notice, saying the visas would be available to employers at risk of serious financial hardship due to a lack of American labor.
The measure roughly doubles the 66,000 visas available each year to businesses such as construction, hospitality, landscaping and seafood processing, in recognition that U.S. employers in those industries may have difficulty finding workers.
Trump, a Republican, launched a wide-ranging crackdown on immigration after returning to the White House in 2025, portraying immigrants without legal status as criminals and a burden on their communities. His administration has also clamped down on forms of legal immigration, with sweeping travel bans and reviews of refugee and asylum cases.
The number of visas available was also expanded under former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Trump during his 2017-2021 presidential terms.
Employers of seasonal businesses – including hotels – have clamored for more visas. Some construction companies have complained about a lack of workers during Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.
Groups that favor lower levels of immigration oppose the visas, saying they undermine the wages of American workers.
Trump has made it harder for tech companies to get workers through the H-1B program, adding a $100,000 fee that has sparked a legal challenge.
A temporary rule making additional H-2B visas available will be formally published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, according to the notice.
