U.S. Expands H-2B Visa Program for Foreign Truck Drivers

The U.S. government has nearly doubled the number of H-2B visas available for the fiscal year 2025, allowing more trucking companies to hire foreign drivers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an additional 64,716 H-2B visas on top of the annual 66,000 visas mandated by Congress. These visas cover temporary, nonagricultural work for industries like trucking, which has increasingly relied on foreign labor to address workforce shortages.

Of the newly added visas, 45,000 are reserved for returning workers from the past three years, while the rest will go to workers from countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. The H-2B program enables employers to hire workers on a seasonal or peak-load basis. Trucking companies, particularly in Montana, Florida, and Massachusetts, have been significant beneficiaries of this program, filling critical labor gaps.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of the program in sustaining U.S. industries, fueling the economy, and providing safe, lawful migration pathways. By addressing labor shortages and reducing irregular migration, the expanded H-2B visa program supports economic growth while creating opportunities for foreign workers prepared to contribute to the U.S. workforce.