Carnival & Fair Buzz

RETURNING WORKER SUPPLEMENTAL CAP MET: On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it reached the supplemental cap for returning workers. On March 14, a total of 16,500 returning worker visas became available for employers with an April 1st date of need. March 30th was the last day DHS accepted petitions. Typically, a lottery is held for petitions received on the day the cap was met but this announcement did not state a lottery was necessary. Based on anecdotal evidence, the Seasonal Employment Alliance (SEA) believe all petitions received on the 30th were counted. 

SEA's original estimate was that around 87% of Group D petitions would be receipted. It's believed around 80% of Group D employers will receive their returning workers through the supplemental cap.

Capped out employers can apply for new or returning workers from the Northern Triangle countires or apply for the final allotment of returning worker visas for a May 15 start date or after.