The U.S. Department of Labor began accepting H-2B applications Tuesday from employers in need of employees with start dates in the second half of the fiscal year.

Key Points:

• Employers who are requesting start dates on or after April 1 began filing H-2B applications on Jan. 2. The filing window closes Jan. 4.
• After the filing window closes, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will randomly order for processing all H-2B applications requesting a work start date of April 1. OFLC will use the randomization procedures published in the Federal Register.
• Additional updates and reminders are available on the OFLC website here.

BAL Analysis: The H-2B continues to grow in popularity. Last year, OFLC received applications covering 142,796 worker positions for just 33,000 available visas, and most observers expect high demand again this year. Last month, the Biden administration published a regulation to make additional H-2B visas available on top of those available under the regular H-2B cap.