US H-2B Visa Cap Reached for First Half of FY 2027: Final Receipt Date Was September 4

WASHINGTON, September 12, 2026 — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B visa cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027, closing the filing window for employers seeking seasonal foreign workers.

The final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2027, was September 4, 2026. Any new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after that date requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2027, will be rejected.

Published: September 12, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

USCIS announces H-2B visa cap reached for first half of FY 2027

Key Details at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Visa Category	H-2B (Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers)
Cap Period	First half of FY 2027 (October 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027)
Cap Reached	Yes
Final Receipt Date	September 4, 2026
Employment Start Date	Before April 1, 2027
Rejection Policy	Petitions received after Sept 4 will be rejected

What Is the H-2B Visa?

The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. The program is capped by Congress at 66,000 visas per fiscal year, divided into two halves:

• First half: October 1 – March 31 (33,000 visas)

• Second half: April 1 – September 30 (33,000 visas)

The H-2B visa is commonly used in industries such as:

• Landscaping and groundskeeping

• Hospitality and tourism

• Seafood processing

• Construction

• Amusement parks

• Housekeeping and cleaning services

What This Means for Employers

Employers planning to hire H-2B workers for the first half of FY 2027 now face significant limitations:

Scenario	Outcome
Petition filed on or before Sept 4, 2026	Will be processed under normal procedures
Petition filed after Sept 4, 2026	Rejected
Employment start date on or after April 1, 2027	May still file under second-half cap

Employers who missed the September 4 deadline must either:

1. Wait for the second-half cap to open for employment start dates on or after April 1, 2027

2. Explore other visa categories such as H-2A (agricultural workers) if applicable

3. Consider supplemental cap exemptions if available

What About Supplemental H-2B Visas?

Congress has previously authorized supplemental H-2B visas beyond the 66,000 annual cap. These supplemental visas are typically made available through the Department of Homeland Security's discretionary authority, often reserved for:

• Returning workers who have previously held H-2B status

• Nationals of certain designated countries

• Employers in specific industries

USCIS has not yet announced whether supplemental H-2B visas will be available for FY 2027. Employers should monitor official announcements.

Practical Advice for Employers

Action	Recommendation
Plan Ahead	File petitions as early as possible when the cap opens
Prepare Documentation	Ensure all supporting documents are ready before filing
Consider Alternatives	Explore H-2A, O-1, or other visa categories if eligible
Monitor Second-Half Cap	The second-half filing window opens for April 1, 2027 start dates
Check Supplemental Visas	Watch for DHS announcements on supplemental H-2B allocations
Consult Immigration Counsel	Work with an attorney to assess options and timing

H-2B Visa Cap: Key Dates

Date	Event
October 1, 2026	FY 2027 begins
September 4, 2026	Final receipt date for first-half H-2B petitions
April 1, 2027	Second-half H-2B employment start dates begin
September 30, 2027	FY 2027 ends

Read Also

• DOL PERM Processing Times Improve to 336 Days as of August 31, 2026

• Ireland Proposes Major Naturalisation Overhaul: 8-Year Residency, Language and Civics Tests, Financial Self-Sufficiency

• USCIS Proposes $103,265 Fee for H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – Comments Open August 25

Official Resources

Resource	Link
USCIS – H-2B Cap Reached Announcement	uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/h-2b-cap-reached-fy-2027-first-half
USCIS – H-2B Visa Information	uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2b-temporary-non-agricultural-workers
Department of Labor – H-2B Program	dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/h-2b
Federal Register – H-2B Cap Announcements	federalregister.gov

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