Biden government will increase number of visas for visiting workers this winter, in the middle of employee shortages
(CNN) –– Joe Biden's government will grant for the first time 20.000 additional visas for seasonal temporary workers during this winter.This was announced on Monday by the National Security Department (DHS).
The department previously increased the amount of visas available for the summer season, one of the busiest to take workers to the country, given the shortage of labor.The announcement of this Monday around 20.000 additional visas adds to 33.000 visas available for the people used during the first half of the fiscal year, which goes from October 1 to March 31.
The H-2B visa allows employers to bring foreign workers to the US.UU.For non -agricultural work.Among them, gardening, hotel and other industries.
Visas conditions for temporary workers
"The DHS implements measures to protect US companies and create opportunities that will expand legal paths to the United States for workers in the countries of the Northern Triangle and Haiti," said the Secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in a statement in a statement.
"In the coming months, DHS will seek to implement policies so that the H-2B program responds even more to the needs of our economy.At the same time that it protects the rights of both US and foreigners workers, "he added.
The visas will be reserved for employers looking for temporary workers before March 31.The department will also grant 6.500 visas for people from Haiti and the countries of the northern triangle: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.This with the aim of providing a legal path to the US.UU.
The process for employers to obtain the visas that allow them to take to the US.UU.Foreign workers is long and cumbersome.In addition, it requires extensive planning.On the one hand, there is a limited number of visas of temporary workers that are divided between the different seasons (spring and summer, and autumn and winter) and can be expensive.The arduous process, added to a greater demand for foreign workers, has raised a challenge for employers seeking to increase their workforce.
The ski resorts, which previously depended on foreign workers, are part of the sectors that could benefit from additional visas, while preparing for the season.
The Congress establishes a limit for the amount of visas allowed per fiscal year.Currently, that limit is 66.000, with 33.000 for workers who begin working from October 1 to March 31 and 33.000 for employees from April 1 to September 30.
