Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker

Under strict DOL regulations, the U.S. employer is legally obligated to pay for (or reimburse you in your very first paycheck for) your inbound international flight, your return flight, and the actual visa application fees. The H-2B program is designed so that the foreign worker does not bear the logistical cost of extraction.

Technically yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may seek admission in the H-4 nonimmigrant classification. However, H-4 dependents of H-2B workers are completely, federally barred from engaging in any employment in the United States.

The visa is generally granted for the specific period of the employer's certified seasonal need (often 6 to 10 months). However, it can theoretically be extended in increments of up to 1 year each, reaching an absolute hard limit of **3 consecutive years**. After 3 years, you must physically depart the U.S. for an uninterrupted period of 3 months before seeking readmission.