Contreras Law Group is a national immigration law firm focused on helping U.S. employers hire foreign workers through the H-2B temporary non-agricultural visa program. We represent landscaping companies, hospitality groups, construction firms, seafood processors, marinas, amusement parks, and other seasonal businesses across the United States.
Our firm has been filing H-2B petitions since 2009 and handles hundreds of H-2B cases every year, making us one of the most experienced H-2B law practices in the country.
The H-2B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary, seasonal, peak-load, or one-time-need positions when they cannot find enough U.S. workers.
Common H-2B jobs include:
The H-2B process involves filings with the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is subject to a strict annual cap and lottery system. A mistake in timing, recruitment, or documentation can result in denial or losing your place in the cap.
H-2B is not a standard visa program — it is a highly technical, fast-moving system that changes every year. Michele Contreras currently serves on the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Department of Labor Liaison Committee, giving our firm real-time insight into how the government is adjudicating H-2B cases.
That means our clients benefit from:
We do not just file petitions — we build repeatable, scalable H-2B programs for our employer clients.
Our firm handles every stage of the H-2B process, including:
Whether you need 2 workers or 200 workers, we have the systems and experience to manage high-volume seasonal hiring.
If your business depends on seasonal or temporary labor, the H-2B visa program can be the difference between growing and shutting down. Our firm offers strategic consultations to help you understand:
We recommend contacting us at least 6 months before your desired start date.
The H-2B cap is the annual limit on the number of new H-2B visas that can be issued each federal fiscal year.
By law, the cap is set at 66,000 visas per fiscal year, divided as follows:
Once the cap is reached, no additional new H-2B visas may be issued unless Congress or the government authorizes supplemental visas.
When the Department of Labor receives more H-2B applications than it can process at once, it uses a randomization process (often referred to as the “lottery”) to assign cases a processing order.
For April 1 start dates, employers may file their H-2B labor certification applications during a three-day filing window (January 1–3). After the window closes, DOL randomly assigns cases into processing groups.
This randomization determines when your case is reviewed, not whether it is approved.
While no one can control the lottery, employers can improve outcomes by:
Mistakes or delays can cost employers their place in the cap.
Timing is critical. Employers should begin preparing 6–9 months before the intended start date. Late preparation is one of the most common reasons employers miss filing windows or lose cap numbers.
H-2B is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa, but some employers may later sponsor workers for permanent residence through PERM labor certification. Employers with H-2B experience are often especially well-positioned to navigate PERM for these workers.
H-2B is one of the most complex employment-based visa programs. An experienced H-2B attorney helps ensure:
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