United StatesWork

US H-2A and H-2B seasonal worker visas

H-2A and H-2B temporary worker visas

In short

H-2A lets US farmers hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and H-2B covers temporary non-agricultural jobs such as hospitality and landscaping. The employer first obtains a temporary labour certification from the Department of Labor and then petitions USCIS. Since 17 January 2025 there is no longer an eligible-country list, so workers of any nationality can be petitioned for.

Apply on USCIS – H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Period of the certified need, usually up to 1 year, extendable to a 3-year maximum
Fee
US$205Visa application fee for H category (22 CFR 22.1); employer pays I-129 fees, e.g. $1,090 (H-2A) or $1,080 (H-2B) with named workers
Work
Only the certified job for the petitioning employer
Family
Spouse and children under 21 on H-4 visas (no work)
Path to permanent residence
None; temporary intent required
Where to apply
Employer files with DOL and USCIS; interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence

Nationality and caps

Since 17 January 2025, DHS regulations no longer require USCIS to check whether the worker’s country is on a designated eligible-country list, so nationality is no longer a separate condition. H-2A has no annual cap; H-2B is capped by statute at 66,000 a year, split between the two halves of the fiscal year, with occasional supplemental numbers announced in the Federal Register.

Employer requirements

The employer must show the need is temporary (seasonal, peak-load, intermittent or one-time), that there are not enough able, willing and qualified US workers, and that hiring foreign workers will not adversely affect US wages and conditions. It obtains a temporary labour certification from the Department of Labor (with Guam’s Department of Labor for jobs in Guam), then files Form I-129 with USCIS. H-2A employers must also provide housing and transport benefits required by DOL rules.

Fees

USCIS fees are paid by the employer: H-2A $1,090 on paper with named workers ($545 for small employers) or $530 for unnamed workers; H-2B $1,080 with named workers or $580 unnamed, plus the Asylum Program Fee and, for H-2B, a $150 fraud prevention fee. Recruitment fees charged to workers are prohibited. The worker pays the $205 visa fee.

Stay and extensions

Stays follow the labour certification, generally up to 1 year, and can be extended in increments of up to 1 year to a maximum of 3 years, after which the worker must spend an uninterrupted period outside the United States before returning in H-2 status.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport, one 5 × 5 cm photo and the DS-160 confirmation page

Work

  • Form I-797 approval notice and a copy of the I-129 petition

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Employment contract or job offer matching the labour certification

Other

  • Evidence of ties to your home country and intent to return after the season

How to apply, step by step

  1. A US employer offers you a seasonal job and applies for temporary labour certification with DOL.
  2. The employer files Form I-129 with USCIS (H-2B subject to the cap).
  3. After approval, complete the DS-160 and pay the $205 visa fee.
  4. Attend the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate with the approval notice.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Does my nationality matter for H-2A or H-2B?

No longer. Since 17 January 2025 there is no eligible-country list requirement, so a US employer can petition for workers of any nationality.

Can I pay an agency to get an H-2 job?

Employers and their recruiters may not collect recruitment fees from H-2 workers; petitions can be denied or revoked if they do.

Can my family work in the US?

H-4 dependants of H-2 workers cannot work.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for the United States

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP; an extension can be requested with Form I-539 if treatment continues
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Immediate and continuous transit only; never more than 29 days

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
  • Investor visa Maximum stay: Admission normally for up to 2 years at a time, renewable while the business qualifies

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: From 15 September 2026: the programme end date, up to 4 years, plus a 30-day departure period; longer study needs an extension from USCIS
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Length of the programme, up to 5 years
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Interns up to 12 months; trainees up to 18 months (12 months in agriculture and hospitality and tourism)
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable by 6, 9 or 12 months with State Department approval

Work

  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years in total
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for a new office); total 7 years for L-1A and 5 for L-1B
  • Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years initially; extensions in 1-year increments

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Validity: K-1: 90 days to marry; CR-1: 2-year conditional green card; IR-1: 10-year green card
  • Family reunification visa Processing time: Immediate relatives: no queue after petition approval; preference categories: years, depending on the Visa Bulletin

Residence

Online travel permits

Faster processing

Protection

United States visa guide