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H-2B LeadershipCouncil

H-2B Program

History of H-2B Supplemental Visa Releases

When the statutory cap is reached and demand remains, the government may make additional H-2B visas available for part of the fiscal year. Each supplemental release has its own announcement date, its own number of visas, and its own window for when workers may generally arrive.

Why timing matters

An announcement date is a planning date

The gap between an announcement and the period workers can actually arrive determines whether an employer can still staff a season. A release announced close to the start of peak demand leaves far less room to recruit, file, and process than one announced months ahead.

Supplemental visas by fiscal year

  1. FY201715,000 visas
  2. FY201815,000 visas
  3. FY201930,000 visas
  4. FY2020No supplemental
  5. FY202122,000 visas
  6. FY202255,000 visas
  7. FY202364,716 visas
  8. FY202464,716 visas
  9. FY202564,716 visas
  10. FY202664,716 visas

  • FY2017

    Supplemental number
    15,000
    Announcement date
    July 17, 2017
    Visas released
    July 19, 2017
    General worker arrival period
    August

  • FY2018

    Supplemental number
    15,000
    Announcement date
    May 25, 2018
    Visas released
    May 31, 2018
    General worker arrival period
    July

  • FY2019

    Supplemental number
    30,000
    Announcement date
    March 29, 2019
    Visas released
    May 8, 2019
    General worker arrival period
    June

  • FY2020

    Supplemental number
    0 supplemental
    Announcement date
    Not applicable
    Visas released
    Not applicable
    General worker arrival period
    Not applicable

  • FY2021

    Supplemental number
    22,000
    Announcement date
    April 20, 2021
    Visas released
    May 25, 2021
    General worker arrival period
    June–July

  • FY2022

    Supplemental number
    55,000
    Announcement date
    March 31, 2022
    Visas released
    May 18, 2022
    General worker arrival period
    June–July

  • FY2023

    Supplemental number
    64,716
    Announcement date
    October 12, 2022
    Visas released
    December 13, 2022
    General worker arrival period
    February–May

  • FY2024

    Supplemental number
    64,716
    Announcement date
    November 3, 2023
    Visas released
    November 17, 2023
    General worker arrival period
    January–May

  • FY2025

    Supplemental number
    64,716
    Announcement date
    November 15, 2024
    Visas released
    November 22, 2024
    General worker arrival period
    December–May

  • FY2026

    Supplemental number
    64,716
    Announcement date
    Announcement date unavailable
    Visas released
    January 30, 2026
    General worker arrival period
    March–July

Source: Client-supplied historical summary of supplemental H-2B visa announcements. Agency reference: U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Department of Labor supplemental H-2B temporary final rules. Last updated 2026-09-20.