December 3, 2014
There is a statutory numerical limit or ‘cap’ on the number of aliens who may be issued an H-2B status during a fiscal year. The H-2B cap set by Congress is 66,000 per fiscal year; 33,000 to be allocated during the first half of the fiscal year (October 1 – March 31) and 33,000 to be allocated during the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 – September 30). Any unused numbers during the first half will be made available to use during the second half of the fiscal year.
As of November 17, 2014, USCIS has receipted 12,658 beneficiaries toward the 33,000 H-2B cap for the first half of FY2015. This includes 11,128 approved and 1,530 pending beneficiaries.1
It is important to check up on the cap count regularly for an updated count.