Relief for Seasonal Businesses Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-4578
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Introduced: 2021-07-20
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-07-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Relief for Seasonal Businesses Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill raises the annual numerical limit on H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) nonimmigrant visas and provides an exemption to this cap for certain applicants.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill raises the annual cap on such visas from 66,000 to 350,000. Furthermore, if a worker seeking an H-2B visa had been counted toward the annual cap in one of the three preceding fiscal years, that worker shall not be counted against the cap again.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4578 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 20, 2021 Mr. Rice of South Carolina introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To expand the H–2B visa program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Relief for Seasonal Businesses Act of 2021 . 2. Expansion of H–2B program Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. (g)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B) by striking 66,000 and inserting 350,000 ; (2) in paragraph (9), to read as follows: (9) Returning workers (A) In general Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), an alien shall not again be counted toward such limitation during fiscal year if that alien had already been counted toward the numerical limitation of paragraph (1)(B) during any of the 3 fiscal years immediately preceding that fiscal year. Such an alien shall be considered a returning worker. (B) Petitions A petition to admit or otherwise provide status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) shall include, with respect to a returning worker— (i) all information and evidence that the Secretary of Homeland Security determines is required to support a petition for status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b); (ii) the full name of the alien; and (iii) a certification to the Department of Homeland Security that the alien is a returning worker. (C) Approval An H–2B visa or grant of nonimmigrant status for a returning worker shall be approved only if the alien is confirmed to be a returning worker by— (i) the Department of State; or (ii) if the alien is visa exempt or seeking to change to status under section 101 (a)(15)(H)(ii)(b), the Department of Homeland Security. ; and (3) in paragraph (10), by striking 33,000 and inserting 175,000 .