EB-3 Green Cards

THE H-2B LABOR LOTTERY SURVIVAL GUIDE

How to Navigate the Lottery, Secure Workers, and Future-Proof Your Workforce

The H-2B Lottery & Understanding Your Results

The H-2B visa program is a vital lifeline for seasonal businesses—but it’s unpredictable. Every year, thousands of employers apply, yet many are left scrambling when their applications fall into lower randomization groups.

The H-2B Lottery & Understanding Your Results

Group A-B

Workers will likely arrive on time

Group C-D

Workers may arrive, but expect delays

Group E & Beyond

High risk of receiving workers too late

If you land in Group E or later, your business is at risk of missing out on critical labor. But you don’t have to wait and hope—there are proven strategies to protect your workforce.

Want the TL;DR version? Let’s talk about how to secure your labor supply and avoid costly shortages.

Key Timing & Regulatory Considerations

Success with H-2B visas depends on timing, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning.

Filing Windows:

Key H-2B Filing Steps:

But even if you file on time and follow the rules, you’re still subject to the lottery. If your workers don’t get visas, you need a backup plan.

See what you can do to protect your workforce.

Immediate Contingency Strategie

01. Mexico-Only May Supplemental Cap

Each May, 5,000 additional visas are sometimes issued for Mexican workers.

How to take advantage of this:

02. Worker Transfers from Other Employers

Some businesses end up with extra workers and are willing to transfer them.

How to secure worker transfers:

03. Fall Lottery Petition (October Start Date)

If April doesn’t work out, filing for an October 1 start date gives you another shot.

Benefits of an October petition:

Need help securing workers quickly?

Workforce Optimization for Future Petitions

1. Adjust Start Dates for Better Eligibility

2. File for Multiple Countries

3. Geographic Branching for Multiple Petitions

Alternative Labor Sources

1. Worker Loan Programs

2. Supplemental & Returning Worker H-2B Visas

Future-Proofing with the PERM (EB-3 Green Card) Program

If you’re tired of the lottery game, it’s time to stop gambling with your workforce and start building a permanent labor strategy.

Why Consider PERM?

H-2B is expensive, unpredictable, and full of delays. But PERM gives you control.

Want To See How PERM Can Work For You?

Praise from real customers

“Approximately 70% of our H-2B workers have transitioned to the PERM program through our collaboration with Unlimited Labor. Initially, 30% had reservations, but now they’re eager to join the program. This shift has significantly reduced the seasonality in our business operations.”

— Mark Wordley, President of Caretaker, Inc

“We have been H-2B users for two decades. By partnering with ULS, we successfully transitioned our H-2B workers to green card holders, stabilizing our workforce. Notably, we haven’t lost a single employee after their transition to permanent residency.”

— Bob Grover, President of Pacific Landscape Management

What Are You Going to Do? Keep Rolling the Dice on Your Workforce?

The H-2B process is unpredictable, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Need a better strategy for next season?

Looking to transition key workers to PERM?

Want to secure visas before it’s too late?

Plan Ahead: Don’t Let the H-2B Lottery Decide Your Workforce

Wondering what your next peak season will look like?  Instead of waiting on the uncertainty of the H-2B visa lottery, take control now.
We help employers retain key H-2B workers, explore transfer options, and build a customized, compliant Green Card strategy—so your workforce is locked in before the next season begins.