The US government has decided to issue 35,000 additional H-2B visas for the year 2026 to provide temporary relief to American employers facing a labor shortage. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have confirmed this decision. According to US officials, the additional visas will be over and above the annual limit of 66,000 H-2B visas, which means that a total of 1.1 million H-2B visas could be available in 2026, subject to demand and eligibility criteria.
US President Donald Trump has reversed his previous statement on the H-2B visa policy, however, the recent allocation is significantly lower than the number of additional H-2B visas issued by the US government over the past three years. Between 2023 and 2025, the US government issued a much higher number of H-2B visas.
The recent increase in visas is approximately 50% lower than the previous years, causing concern among industries that rely heavily on foreign temporary workers. The reduced allocation means that opportunities for temporary employment in the US will be limited, and the competition will be tougher.
It’s worth noting that the H-2B program is only available to citizens of countries approved by the Department of Homeland Security. These countries include Mexico, Jamaica, the Philippines, Thailand, the UK, Japan, and Brazil, among others, while large labor-supplying countries like India, Pakistan, and China are still excluded.
In other news, Iranian authorities have reacted to US President Trump’s message to Iranian protesters, calling it a reaction. The International Community has been monitoring the situation in Iran, where protests have been ongoing for two weeks. The internet is still shut down, and international calls have been restored.
In a separate development, India has witnessed a rise in hate crimes against minorities, according to a report by the India Hate Lab research group. The Indian government has been criticized for its handling of the situation, with many calling for greater action to protect minority communities.
Meanwhile, the British intelligence agency has warned that the leader of the Khalsa Tahtan Referendum Campaign, Paramjit Singh Pan, poses a threat to Indian state agents. Russia has condemned US threats to attack Iran, calling them unacceptable.
In a statement, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that the Iranian military is more capable than Israel, which it has been fighting for 12 days.
