How to Navigate the Lottery, Secure Workers, and Future-Proof Your Workforce
The 2026 season brought real wins for seasonal employers and some important new dynamics to plan around.
Every petition is sorted into randomized groups, which determine your chance of securing workers.
Group A-B
Highest probability of certification and worker arrival.
Group C-D
Delays and partial certifications are common.
Group E & Beyond
Often denied or receiving workers too late.
The government expanded supplemental visa capacity across three separate allocations to serve employers with different seasonal start dates. Here’s how they break down:
• First Allocation (Jan 1 – Mar 31 start dates): 18,490 visas, returning workers only. Cap already reached.
• Second Allocation (Apr 1 – Apr 30 start dates): 27,736 visas plus any rollover from the first allocation, returning workers only.
• Third Allocation (May 1 – Sept 30 start dates): 18,490 visas plus any rollover, open to all workers regardless of prior H-2B history.
Timing is critical. Missing a window can cost you your entire workforce for the season.
Filing Windows for 2026:
Key H-2B Filing Steps:
The supplemental allocations make it more important than ever to know exactly which window you are eligible for and be ready to file the moment it opens.
This is not just a headline. Enforcement is already underway.
Over 1 million deportations targeted annually
Sudden crew disruptions in industries with high undocumented percentages
Legal and financial exposure for employers caught unprepared
Employers must treat deportations as a real and immediate threat to operations.
Even with a strong petition, having a backup plan puts you in a better position than most employers.
Worker Transfers: If your petition lands in a later lottery group, coordinate with companies in higher groups that have unused allocations. Workers can transfer to your operation after one to two pay cycles.
Second and Third Supplemental Allocations: If you missed the first window, the second (April start dates) and third (May through September start dates) allocations are still open. The third allocation does not require returning worker status.
Fall Lottery: File for October start dates if your spring petition does not come through. Building a parallel petition is straightforward and worth the effort.
Prepare now to improve your position in future filings.
Many employers are moving beyond the annual H-2B lottery entirely by sponsoring their best workers for permanent residence.
EB-3 Benefits:
Economics:
Your workforce is your business. The tools to protect it are available right now.
