On June 12, 2018, the H-2B Workforce Coalition filed a letter with the House Appropriations Committee, urging them to provide substantial and lasting H-2B visa cap relief in the Fiscal 2019 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. Currently, the cap on H-2B visas in the United States is 66,000. This number is not enough to meet the needs of the American labor force. Congressional action is necessary to allow seasonal businesses to hire H-2B workers when local workers are not available. With the current cap in place, the DHS is forced to select which businesses will receive H-2B workers, and which businesses will not.
About the H-2B Workforce Coalition
The H-2B Workforce Coalition advocates on behalf of small and seasonal businesses in the United States. These companies rely on temporary workers to fill gaps in the labor force during certain seasons. A variety of industries hire H-2B workers when local temporary employees are not available. These industries include seafood processing, carnivals, swimming pool maintenance, forestry, landscaping, hospitality, amusement parks, stone quarries, golf courses, and food concessionaires.
Employers in these industries are often unable to find employment in the local labor force. Instead, they need H-2B workers to keep their businesses running. However, the current cap on H-2B visas prevents many businesses from hiring such workers. This has forced many seasonal businesses to scale back services, turn away customers, and even lay off American workers or shut down operations completely.
Understanding the Implications of the H-2B Visa Cap
The H-2B Workforce Coalition is fighting to support and protect the American economy by allowing more H-2B workers into the country. These workers are not immigrants. They are fully vetted temporary laborers who fill job positions for a limited time and then return home. Without these workers, small businesses across the U.S. are being forced to close their doors. The U.S. economy needs H-2B workers to supplement the American workforce during peak seasons. H-2B workers support both upstream and downstream jobs, and each H-2B worker is estimated to create and sustain 4.64 American jobs.
Sintsirmas & Mueller Co. L.P.A. - (888) 491-8770
At Sintsirmas & Mueller Co. L.P.A., we provide compassionate and informative representation to clients facing a variety of immigration issues. Whether you are seeking an employment-based visa, or you need representation against deportation or other complex matters, our Cleveland immigration attorneys are here to help. We will take the time to answer your questions and understand your situation, and will work hard to protect your rights. Our legal team has more than 50 years of collective experience.
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