Application Period Opens For H-2B Workers

The Virginia-based Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) has for several years been lobbying lawmakers to reform immigration laws to let more foreign landscape workers enter the country.

The Department of Homeland Security has released a new set of guidelines on how to file petitions for H-2B workers. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began accepting applications for new and repeat H-2B workers in May.

The move opens a window for the many landscape contracting firms who need additional labor to grow their businesses.

According to the guidance, DHS will accept applications for about 35,000 new workers and additional repeat workers who have participated in the H-2B program sometime between October 1, 2001 and September 30, 2004. The repeat workers will not count toward the annual 66,000 cap. Applications will also be accepted for repeat workers needed for fiscal 2006. According to the guidance, employers will be able to certify that workers are repeat workers. They will also be able to file a single petition for multiple workers, including unnamed beneficiaries. Petitions must also include a new $150 fraud prevention and detection fee. Premium Processing will be in place.

More information is available at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration website, https://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

The department's help line is (800) 375-5283.