USCIS Announces H-2B Cap Reached for First Half of FY 2027

USCIS has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027. September 4, 2026 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2027. Petitions received after that date requesting such start dates will be rejected.

Key points

• USCIS received enough H-2B petitions to meet the first half of FY 2027 cap.
• September 4, 2026 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject petitions with start dates before April 1, 2027.
• Petitions filed after September 4, 2026 requesting those start dates will be rejected.
• USCIS encourages the public, including U.S. and H-2B workers, to report suspected fraud or abuse via its online tip form.
• Further details are available on USCIS's Cap Count for H-2B Nonimmigrants page.

Who is affected

Employers and workers seeking H-2B status with employment start dates before April 1, 2027 are affected.

What to do