USCIS hits H-2B cap for 2nd half of FY 2026; supplemental filing dates released

USCIS announced that it has reached the congressionally set H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2026. This means USCIS has received enough new “cap-subject” petitions for H-2B workers with employment start dates in that period.

USCIS also said March 10, 2026 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1 and before October 1, 2026. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after that date if they request an employment start date in that same window.

In addition, USCIS released filing dates for the second and third allocations of supplemental H-2B visas for FY 2026. The specific dates depend on the allocation and are shown in the chart on USCIS’s “Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2026” page (linked from the alert).

For the official details, see the USCIS alert and the linked “Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2026” page: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-h-2b-cap-for-second-half-of-fy-2026-and-filing-dates-now-available-for-supplemental