<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Kirchner Law, PLLC]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kirchner Law PLLC: Trusted immigration attorneys providing expert legal solutions. Contact us for personalized assistance today!]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/immigrationblog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 09:13:20 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[FY2027 H-2B Cap Count: Numbers Are Closing Faster Than Last Year]]></title><description><![CDATA[USCIS's latest FY2027 H-2B cap count shows 30,125 of 33,000 first half numbers already used, tracking faster than FY2026. Fewer than 3,000 slots remain for winter 2027 start dates, and employers who haven't filed risk missing the cap even with a clean DOL certification. Spring 2027 planning is already underway behind the scenes too. Waiting until the winter cap closes to start your spring process often means 2028, not 2027. Here's what employers need to know now.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/fy2027-h-2b-cap-count-numbers-are-closing-faster-than-last-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8f1138d2a5268a5fb616ac</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Employer Preparation Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Compliance Tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temporary Work Visa Policies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:20:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_a0ada0d49c4e4750b3ac94f49463aea6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_773,h_359,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[New H-2A Wage Rates Are Here: What Agricultural Employers Need to Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[New H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates take effect August 3 (August 17 in select states), and the change catches many employers mid-season. Here's the key question answered: if the new AEWR is higher than what you're currently paying, you must raise wages immediately, even on already-certified job orders. If it's lower, the previously certified rate stands. Full breakdown of effective dates, the Big 5 vs. other-occupation rate split, surety bond impact, and California's AB 2646.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/new-h-2a-wage-rates-are-here-what-agricultural-employers-need-to-know</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a71229174653e170f8c7a13</guid><category><![CDATA[Employer Preparation Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2A Dairy Guidelines]]></category><category><![CDATA[Agricultural Immigration Updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temporary Work Visa Policies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2A Wages]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:24:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_827571fabd4345fbb2998b93fa905632~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Do You Have to Pay for H-2B Worker Housing? What Employers Need to Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many H-2B employers ask if they are required to pay for worker housing. The compliance answer is no for most nonagricultural positions, but the practical answer is different. Learn why housing readiness protects your workforce, your compliance record, and your season.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/do-you-have-to-pay-for-h-2b-worker-housing-what-employers-need-to-know</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a57c1894ee79d90036e03d5</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Employer Preparation Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Compliance Tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 17:30:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_315206b8437b443c8458cc0b38272328~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[FY2027 H-2B October Filing Season: Demand Climbs]]></title><description><![CDATA[OFLC received 2,625 H-2B applications for October 1, 2026, covering 51,158 worker positions, an 8% increase over last year. Learn what the growth means, how Assignment Groups A and B work, and why Group B employers face a tougher cycle this time with contingency planning more important than ever.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/fy2027-h-2b-october-filing-season-demand-climbs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4e6bec1bc3692e46e8ba82</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Employer Preparation Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Compliance Tips]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temporary Work Visa Policies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:50:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_8e5b546e613740cbb4ac69e5001ee55e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[FY2027 Winter H-2B Filing Window Is Confirmed: What Employers Need to Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[FY2027 is almost here. OFLC has confirmed the three-day H-2B filing window for October 1, 2026 work start dates runs July 3 through July 5, 2026. All window applications are randomized after closing, so accuracy matters more than speed. Key reminders: one application per job opportunity, concurrent SWA job order required, and Appendix B signatures must be current. Questions? Contact Kirchner Law.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/fy2027-winter-h-2b-filing-window-is-confirmed-what-employers-need-to-know</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a42fe6151416e35e7844908</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Employer Preparation Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:26:48 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[USCIS Issues Guidance on H-2A Visas for Dairy Operations: What It Does (and Doesn’t) Change]]></title><description><![CDATA[USCIS issued a new policy memo on H-2A visas for dairy operations, and the coverage has overstated what it actually does. The memo does not create a new pathway or lower the bar. It fills a gap in written guidance and standardizes how adjudicators review dairy petitions. Here is what changed, what did not, and what it means if you are considering H-2A for your dairy operation.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/uscis-issues-guidance-on-h-2a-visas-for-dairy-operations-what-it-does-and-doesn-t-change</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3d7c8ac46da0aa0d470945</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2A Dairy Guidelines]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Agricultural Immigration Updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temporary Work Visa Policies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:38:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_fa0f3be07ddd49e1b825c84dc82c7560~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 6: The Mistakes I See Every Season — And How to Avoid Them]]></title><description><![CDATA[After more than a decade in H-2B, the same costly mistakes keep appearing across case files. From starting too late and weak job descriptions to scope creep after workers arrive and over-reliance on H-2B as a sole staffing solution, these are the errors that derail seasons, trigger audits, and result in denied petitions. This final installment of the H-2B Start to Finish series covers what employers need to know before it costs them.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-6-the-mistakes-i-see-every-season-and-how-to-avoid-them</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3bf2f0433568818445c0d0</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[EB-3]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:17:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_ee7288ddac0048368548d21908d5bea0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 5: Compliance During and After the Season]]></title><description><![CDATA[Once workers arrive, your H-2B obligations begin immediately — and they don't end until every worker is home. Wage compliance, the three-fourths guarantee, worksite limitations, separation notices, document retention, and return transportation are all on you. These requirements are detailed, enforced, and the source of most employer violations I see. Part 5 of the H-2B From the Start series breaks down exactly what you're on the hook for — before a problem surfaces.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-5-compliance-during-and-after-the-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3389a3960838f9d83e6b83</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[EB-3]]></category><category><![CDATA[PERM]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:09:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_cf5d65a1e7684822902ced273742f4b1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2 B Part 4: From DOL Certification to Workers on the Ground]]></title><description><![CDATA[DOL certification isn't the finish line — it's the halfway point. Once certified, you move into USCIS filing, consular processing, and getting workers from their home country to your job site. Each phase has its own timeline pressures and its own points of failure. The employers who navigate this well aren't waiting for updates — they're receiving them proactively.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-4-from-dol-certification-to-workers-on-the-ground</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2a22ab8ae4d2c74dd164ce</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[EB-3]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:34:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_161155e17640414b8ea788199a39ab2b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B Part 3: The DOL Process — What It Actually Takes to Get Certified]]></title><description><![CDATA[The DOL certification process is the foundation of every H-2B case — and where the most preventable mistakes happen. Part 3 of the H-2B From the Start series breaks down prevailing wage determinations, the 9142B filing, SWA job orders, Notices of Deficiency, and recruitment documentation requirements. If you're a first-time filer or have struggled with timeline issues, this one is worth reading carefully.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-3-the-dol-process-what-it-actually-takes-to-get-certified</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a21f98a367ed35011d666fc</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:22:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_cfef724d440e4ee7881d4f2a0eb01d46~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 3: The EB-3 Category, the Visa Backlog, and What Realistic Timelines Actually Look Like]]></title><description><![CDATA[Most employers are surprised by the H-2B to EB-3 green card timeline — and that surprise is what derails the process. From prevailing wage request to a worker arriving as a permanent resident, you're looking at four to five years under current conditions. That's not a reason to wait. It's a reason to start now. The pipeline rewards early action, and every year you delay is a year further back in line.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-3-the-eb-3-category-the-visa-backlog-and-what-realistic-timelines-actually-look-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a21f812e3c740ba363798a2</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2A]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[EB-3]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:15:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_a2dd8e09dfba4722bc0e708ce3b9eb5d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 2: How PERM Actually Works]]></title><description><![CDATA[PERM is the DOL labor certification process required before an employer can sponsor a foreign national for an EB-3 green card. The concept mirrors H-2B: prove no qualified U.S. worker is available. The difference? This one leads to permanent residence. From prevailing wage determinations to mandatory recruitment and 18+ month processing times, the mechanics matter — and so do the pitfalls.
]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-2-how-perm-actually-works</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a184635d715e99f6b99fb38</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[EB-3]]></category><category><![CDATA[PERM]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 13:49:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_39b78aaff0f54f3ba217d7bfe86653ba~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B to PERM Part 1: Why Some H-2B Employers Are Done Gambling on the Cap Every Year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every season, H-2B employers face the same uncertainty: the lottery, the cap, the consulate. This series explores the H-2B to PERM pathway — how EB-3 labor certification converts your most reliable returning workers into permanent employees, and why running both programs together builds the workforce stability that H-2B alone can't provide.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/h-2b-to-perm-part-1-why-some-h-2b-employers-are-done-gambling-on-the-cap-every-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a15f182ce062e4a09f16a68</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 19:22:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_961f666d3a0d4762b9c5dce17917acbc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_719,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part 2: The Cap, the Randomized Selection Process, and What Your Odds Actually Look Like]]></title><description><![CDATA[If Part 1 was about whether H-2B is the right tool for your business, Part 2 is where things get real. The cap is the single most frustrating feature of the H-2B program — and the one most employers understand the least until they've been through a bad year. Let me break it down plainly. The statutory cap Congress set the annual H-2B cap at 66,000 visas per fiscal year. That number is divided into two equal halves: 33,000 for employers with start dates in the first half of the fiscal year...]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/part-2-the-cap-the-randomized-selection-process-and-what-your-odds-actually-look-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a15e7c9f3631a430c8d5e98</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 18:51:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_b1c594686a3046aaa2c223c86b7029c2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>mkidwel2</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B Visas for Construction Contractors: How to Protect Your Schedule and Your Margins]]></title><description><![CDATA[The construction industry needs nearly 500,000 additional workers in 2026. Ninety-two percent of contractors say they can't find qualified people. Forty-five percent report labor shortages are directly causing project delays. And only 10% are using the legal program built specifically to address it. H-2B visas offer construction contractors predictable, project-specific workers — planned into your bid, not scrambled for after hiring fails.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/h-2b-visas-for-construction-contractors-how-to-protect-your-schedule-and-your-margins</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a13843ef3bc0136e5198b50</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 23:21:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_9eb95e7cfda943e5a10b5017f3914829~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Employer Guide: What Is the H-2B Visa — and Is It Right for Your Business?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The H-2B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary, non-agricultural positions when qualified U.S. workers aren't available. It's employer-sponsored, compliance-intensive, and subject to an annual cap of 66,000 visas. Before you file anything, there's a conversation worth having about your business model. H-2B attorney Meagan Kirchner walks through the basics — what it is, who qualifies, and what to consider before you start.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/what-is-the-h-2b-visa-and-is-it-right-for-your-business</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0cc141cb0791383ec08b7e</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Green Card]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Workforce Solutions]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business Immigration Strategies]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Employment]]></category><category><![CDATA[H-2B Workers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seasonal Visas]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 20:11:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1f20e_a6a67dd623b2441fb2bb36a571b0df38~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Critical Window for H-2B Reform: The Certified Seasonal Employer Designation]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you've been using the H-2B program for five or more years and doing everything right — timely filings, clean compliance record, consistent DOL labor certifications — there's a piece of pending legislation that could meaningfully change how the annual cap affects your business. The Certified Seasonal Employer (CSE) Designation would permanently exempt qualifying employers' peak historical workforce from the 66,000 annual cap. But the window to support it is narrow, and it opens right now.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/a-critical-window-for-h-2b-reform-the-certified-seasonal-employer-designation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a020b74e8ad7aab1e5a2950</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 18:02:14 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B Processing in 2026: The System Is Failing the Employers Who Followed the Rules]]></title><description><![CDATA[DOL processing of FY2026 second-half H-2B applications hit Group F this week — and the timing couldn't be more complicated. Updated data shows only a small slice of Group F, if any, will make it under the returning worker supplemental cap. But the cap isn't even the whole story. Consular interview scheduling is running 3–4 weeks behind, and Holy Week closures in Mexico are making it worse. H-2B employers deserve a program that functions. Right now, they're not getting it.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/h-2b-processing-in-2026-the-system-is-failing-the-employers-who-followed-the-rules</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c809ee5ed83abd8bc1a0e2</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:07:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_880c7b78f2784cb48e182e145a301663~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The FY 2026 Second Half H-2B Cap Has Been Met: What Employers Need to Know Now]]></title><description><![CDATA[On March 20, 2026, USCIS announced that the H-2B statutory cap for the second half of FY 2026 has been met, with March 10 established as the final receipt date. Employers who missed the cap are not without options — the supplemental returning worker allocation opens March 25, offering 27,736 visas for start dates of April 1–30. But eligibility is strict, the window is narrow, and the irreparable harm attestation is not a formality. Here is what you need to know now.]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/the-fy-2026-second-half-h-2b-cap-has-been-met-what-employers-need-to-know-now</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bde3ed9b4f1678f0826cf7</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:21:14 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[H-2B Supplemental Visas — What Each Lottery Group Should Realistically Expect (FY 2026)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many employers ask: “ Okay… but what are my real chances of getting workers ?” First — A Quick Refresher on How Supplemental Visas Work For FY 2026, the government created 64,716 additional H-2B visas beyond the regular cap. They are divided by start date of need, not by lottery group: ➡️ April 1 – April 30, 2026: 27,736 visas (returning workers only) ➡️May 1 – September 30, 2026: 18,490 visas (new OR returning workers) This matters because lottery group affects how early you can file, and...]]></description><link>https://www.kirchnerimmigration.com/single-post/h-2b-supplemental-visas-what-each-lottery-group-should-realistically-expect-fy-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699e2772e6cf3604ca348a71</guid><category><![CDATA[H-2B Visa]]></category><category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nonimmigrant Visas]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:37:46 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Meagan Kirchner</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>