A federal decision to allow 35,000 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas for the second half of fiscal year 2022 visas is expected to help fill Alaska jobs in commercial fisheries and the tourism industry, says Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
“With the tourism and fishing season right around the corner, and the economic fallout we have seen from COVID, it is vital to ensure Alaskans have the needed workers to supplement our local workforce,” Murkowski said, after the departments of Homeland Security and Labor made the announcement this past week.
“The federal H-2B program has been crucial in Alaska, allowing businesses to hire workers from other countries for positions and jobs they otherwise cannot fill, despite their best efforts to recruit Alaskans and Americans to fill their vacancies.,” she said.
Murkowski had worked with officials in both agencies to secure the additional visas.
Commercial seafood processors in Alaska have been working with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to hire enough people to meet the demand of processors.
“The additional 35,000 H-2B visas announced today for the second half of FY22 are a potential lifeline to some seafood processing companies in Alaska, who may otherwise be short-staffed this summer,” said Chris Barrows, president of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association in Seattle, whose members harvest groundfish in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. “These visas were authorized only weeks ago in the consolidated appropriations bill, and we’re grateful for Senator Murkowski’s work and leadership leading up to today’s announcement. It’s now vital that DHS and DOL follow through and facilitate guest worker arrival in Alaska before major salmon fisheries get underway.”
In January, DHS and DOL announced 20,000 additional H-2B visas, making the first release of supplemental visas in the first half of the fiscal year.
The federal H-2B program allows businesses to hire thoroughly screened workers from foreign countries for temporary positions that they have not been able to fill with local workers. It is frequently used to support Alaska’s seafood and tourism industries. This program allows for foreign workers to work in the United States for a season and return to their home countries. These visas are for U.S. employers that are facing irreparable harm without additional workers.
