Warner & Kaine Applaud Release of H-2b Work Visas Needed to Fill Otherwise Vacant Jobs in Virginia’s Seafood Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement today after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the expected release of an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This announcement follows strong advocacy by the Senators, who pushed DHS and DOL in October to release these visas – the maximum number authorized by congress for FY 2025.

“We are pleased to see the Department of Homeland Security plan to release these additional H-2B visas, which will allow workers to legally and temporarily fill seasonal job openings that would otherwise sit vacant. This move will help the small family businesses that make up Virginia’s seafood industry by ensuring they have the labor needed to get their product to market ahead of the commercial harvesting season.”  

The H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Visa Program allows U.S. employers to hire seasonal, non-immigrant workers during peak seasons to supplement the existing American workforce. In order to be eligible for the program, employers are required to declare that there are not enough U.S. workers available to do the temporary work, as is the case with the seafood industry, which relies on H-2B workers for tough jobs such as shucking oysters and processing crabs. 

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long advocated for the expansion of H-2B visas in order to ensure that seafood processors in Virginia have the seasonal workforce they need. Last year, the Senators pushed for DOL to reform the H-2B Visa process in order to help meet the need of Virginia’s seafood processors. In 2022, Sens. Warner and Kaine pushed for and secured the release of an additional H-2B visas for seasonal workers.

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