Carnival & Fair Buzz

On December 31, 2025, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to release 35,000 supplemental H-2B visas. However, the required rule outlining eligibility and filing procedures has not yet been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget. Until that rule is published, employers cannot apply for these supplemental visas.

UPDATE 1/30/2026 4:00PM CST - DHS announced it would be releasing the full number of supplemental visas, 64,716, as authorized by congress.  Read more here.

This delay threatens staffing across our industry and puts the 2026 season at risk.

We urge all industry members to act immediately, including but not limited to suppliers, fair and festival committees, and owners/operators. Contact your U.S. Representatives and ask them to press the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to publish the supplemental H-2B visa rule without further delay. Congressional pressure is essential to ensure this commitment is fulfilled and our workforce needs are met.

For more than two decades, the carnival industry has depended on seasonal foreign workers through the H-2B visa program to staff our midways. This program is also critical to many other labor-intensive industries, including landscaping, hospitality, and commercial fishing.

Each year, the federal government limits the program to 66,000 visas, far below actual workforce demand. While the Department of Homeland Security has authority to release up to 64,000 additional supplemental visas, access to those visas depends on timely rulemaking.

Who is my Representative?

To determine what Representative to contact click here. To find your Senator click here.

Sample Talking Points

Below are sample talking points provided by OABA that you may use in your correspondence: