USCIS has updated the public on the latest count of H-2B petitions received. According to USCIS, as of July 28, 2008, a total of 34,677 petitions have been received and counted toward the 33,000 H-2B cap for the first half of Fiscal Year 2009. The organization also notes that 21,909 beneficiaries have been approved, with 23,768 still pending. The organization’s target for total beneficiary applications to approve to reach the 33,000 cap (allowing for withdrawals, denials and revocations) is 40,000.

The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers in industries that face peak loads, seasonal or intermittent labor needs to bring in additional temporary nonimmigrant workers to fill those needs. H-2B workers traditionally work in areas such as construction, health care, landscaping, lumber, manufacturing, food service and hospitality services. The H-2B visa cap allows for up to 66,000 H-2B visas to be provided each year. Note that petitions approved to extend an alien’s stay or change their terms of employment do not count against this annual cap limitation.