The H-2B visa allows employers with peak load, seasonal, or intermittent needs to hire foreign workers to fill those slots in certain situations. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), these visas are normally used in construction, health care, landscaping, lumber, manufacturing, food service/processing, and resort/hospitality services. Under the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005 (SOS Act) a limit of 66,000 H-2B visas is set per fiscal year, with 33,000 allowed in each half of the fiscal year. The fiscal year 2010 begins on October 1, 2009. Since petitions may not be filed more than 120 days before the date of the actual need, the time to start filing petitions begins in early June. USCIS considers petitions filed on the date received, not the date postmarked. The USCIS will also regularly provide updates on the numbers of beneficiaries approved and pending. Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the H-2B visa program.