Exercise of Time-Limited Authority To Increase the Fiscal Year 2021 Numerical Limitation for the H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Program and Portability Flexibility for H-2B Workers Seeking To Change Employers

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, is exercising his time-limited Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 authority and increasing the numerical limitation on H-2B nonimmigrant visas to authorize the issuance of no more than 22,000 additional visas through the end of the second half of FY 2021 to those businesses likely to suffer irreparable harm, as attested by the employer on a new attestation form. In addition to making additional visas available under the FY 2021 time-limited authority, DHS is exercising its general H-2B regulatory authority to temporarily provide portability flexibility by allowing H-2B workers who are already in the United States to begin work immediately after an H-2B petition (supported by a valid temporary labor certification) is received by USCIS, and before it is approved.