As the labor shortage continues unabated, notwithstanding record low unemployment rates, efforts are underway to increase the limit on H-2B Visas. Along with others, the Travel Industry is urging the Biden administration to raise the cap following news early this month that the limit for the second half of the current fiscal year (FY22) had already been reached. According to the US Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS), Congress has set the H-2B limit at 66,000 per fiscal year – 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the first half of the fiscal year (October – March) and the remaining 33,000 for those starting work in the 2nd half of the fiscal year (April through September). In a statement, the travel industry said “With the H-2B visa cap already met, and millions of jobs still open, it is evident that a workforce shortage is threatening to hold back industries across the economy. . . The cap on H-2B visas must be raised. . . Raising the cap on H-2B visas has strong bipartisan support in Congress as the action would have a clear and immediate benefit to businesses that are struggling to rebound from historic workforce shortages.” A temporary final rule (TFR) was published in the Federal Register on January 28 announcing an increase of 20,000 H-2B visas for positions starting before March 1, 2022. The US Chamber of Commerce has also been encouraging the administration to increase the H-2B visa limits.