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Connecticut Lodging Association
05/17/2022
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DHS and DOL Announce Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for Second Half of Fiscal Year |
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced today the availability of an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas during the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas are for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional workers on or after April 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2022.
“These additional H-2B visas will help employers meet the demand for seasonal workers at this most critical time, when there is a serious labor shortage,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The visas are accompanied by significant worker protections and provide a safe and lawful pathway for individuals to come to the United States and earn wages in jobs that are not filled by American workers.”
The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 23,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 11,500 visas are reserved for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, regardless of whether they are returning workers. The semiannual cap of 33,000 visas for the second half of FY 2022 was reached on February 25, 2022.
The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, or seasonal or intermittent need. Employers seeking to hire H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must provide certification from DOL that proves there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing the H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
DHS will subject employers that have committed certain labor law violations in the H-2B program to additional scrutiny in the supplemental cap petition process. This additional scrutiny is aimed at ensuring compliance with H-2B program requirements and obligations.
The joint temporary final rule can be found on the Federal Register website. Employers can begin petitioning on Wednesday, May 18. Read more.
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FEMA Disaster Lodging Forum Webinar |
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In advance of hurricane season, join AHLA for a special webinar with the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA) highlighting information on their Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program (TSA) which provides temporary, short-term housing for those impacted by natural disasters and crises who are in need of immediate shelter.
Federal officials will answer your questions, including:
- How can hoteliers participate in the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program (TSA) to support victims of natural disasters?
- What specific business considerations should hotels be prepared for when participating in the TSA program?
- Who should hotels contact in their region for more information?
Featured Speakers
- Chip Rogers, President & CEO, AHLA
- Jeffrey Dorko, Assistant Administrator, Logistics Management Directorate
- Cindy Atkins, TSA Unit Lead, Mass Care Emergency Assistance, Individual Assistance Division, FEMA Recovery Directorate
- Mark Tinsman, Emergency Work Section Chief, Regulation & Policy Branch, Public Assistance Division, FEMA Recovery Directorate
- Joshua Wert, Disaster Support Branch Director, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
- Kathy Hill, Acting Director, Office of Business, Industry, & Infrastructure Integration
Wednesday, May 18
3:30pm ET
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New Survey: Reply by COB Friday, 5/20 |
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AHLA and the AHLA Foundation are continually working to address hospitality labor shortages and advance policies that will help your business during this incredibly tight labor market.
As part of those efforts, we are conducting a new Front Desk Feedback survey of members on the status of their business, their current staffing situation and their outlook for the months ahead. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and your responses will provide valuable feedback to help us ensure we are serving your needs.
All responses will be anonymized, and no individual information will be shared.
Please complete the survey by close of business this Friday, May 20.
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