H-2B TIMELINE

*The following timeline serves as an informative guide, specific dates may vary depending on lottery placement and consular availability

  • Day 150 to 120
    Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD)
    Target Prevailing Wage Determination (ETA 9141) File Date with the DOL’s National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC)
  • Day 120 to 90
    Document Preparation
    Draft Job Order with State Workforce Agency (SWA) and H-2B Application (ETA 9142) with Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Day 90
    Temporary Employment Certification (ETA 9142B)
    Earliest date for filing H-2B Application with DOL
  • Day 89 to 30
    U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
    DOL conducts randomized lottery to determine processing order
    Employer conducts positive U.S. recruitment and submits Recruitment Report to DOL for Temporary Labor Certification
  • Day 29 to 15
    U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS)
    Submission of Initial Results of Recruitment to DOL to receive Labor Certification and file I-129 with Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS)
    File nonimmigrant worker petition (Form I-129) with CIS (IF visas are still available)
  • Day 15 to 1
    U.S. Department of State (DOS)
    Workers prepare DS-160s, consular appointments scheduled, visas issued, workers cross