(a) An employer that files a petition with USCIS to employ H-2B workers in fiscal year 2025 under authority of the temporary increase in the numerical limitation under section 105 of Division G, Public Law 118-47, as extended by Public Law 118-83 must maintain for a period of three (3) years from the date of certification, consistent with 20 CFR 655.56 and 29 CFR 503.17, the following:
(1) A copy of the attestation filed pursuant to the regulations in 8 CFR 214.2 governing that temporary increase;
(2) Evidence establishing, at the time of filing the I-129 petition and as attested to in the attestation form, that the employer's business is suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm (that is, permanent and severe financial loss) without the ability to employ all of the H-2B workers requested on the petition filed pursuant to 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xv), including a detailed written statement describing the irreparable harm and how such evidence shows irreparable harm;
(3) Documentary evidence establishing that each of the workers the employer requested and/or instructed to apply for a visa, whether named or unnamed on a petition filed pursuant to 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xv), have been issued an H-2B visa or otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three (3) fiscal years (fiscal year 2022, 2023, or 2024), unless the H-2B worker(s) is a national of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, or Costa Rica and is counted towards the 20,000 cap described in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xv)(A)(2). Alternatively, if applicable, employers must maintain documentary evidence that the workers the employer requested and/or instructed to apply for visas are eligible nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, or Costa Rica as defined in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xv)(A)(2); and
(4) If applicable, proof of recruitment efforts set forth in § 655.64(a)(4)(i) through (vii) and a recruitment report that meets the requirements set forth in § 655.48(a)(1) through (4) and (7), and maintained throughout the recruitment period set forth in § 655.64(a)(4)(viii).
(b) DOL and/or DHS may inspect the documents in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section upon request.
(c) This section expires on October 1, 2028.
[89 FR 95685, Dec. 2, 2024]
Effective Date Note:At 89 FR 95685, Dec. 2, 2024, § 655.68 was added, effective Dec. 2, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2028.
authority: Section 655.0 issued under
8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(H)(i) and (ii),
8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(6), 1182(m), (n), and (t), 1184(c), (g), and (j), 1188, and 1288(c) and (d); sec. 3(c)(1), Pub. L. 101-238, 103 Stat. 2099, 2102 (
8 U.S.C. 1182 note); sec. 221(a), Pub. L. 101-649, 104 Stat. 4978, 5027 (
8 U.S.C. 1184 note); sec. 303(a)(8), Pub. L. 102-232, 105 Stat. 1733, 1748 (
8 U.S.C. 1101 note); sec. 323(c), Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2428; sec. 412(e), Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (
8 U.S.C. 1182 note); sec. 2(d), Pub. L. 106-95, 113 Stat. 1312, 1316 (
8 U.S.C. 1182 note);
29 U.S.C. 49k; Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, as amended; Pub. L. 109-423, 120 Stat. 2900;
8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(i);
8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(iii); and sec. 6, Pub. L. 115-218, 132 Stat. 1547 (
48 U.S.C. 1806)
source: 42 FR 45899, Sept. 13, 1977, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 20 CFR 655.68