Published on
February 17, 2026
Image generated with Ai
Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Poland, France, Romania, Denmark, and over thirty-five countries in Europe are hit hard by tough new US visa restrictions as the United States imposes stricter caps on temporary work visas for the 2026 fiscal year. These caps, part of the H-2B visa program, severely limit the number of foreign workers allowed into the country, particularly impacting industries like hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing, and construction that rely on seasonal labor. With the demand for seasonal workers in the US exceeding the available visas, European countries, many of which traditionally send large numbers of workers to fill these positions, now face increased competition and uncertainty in securing their place in the limited pool of available visas. This newly imposed restriction is set to have significant repercussions for both workers and businesses, with the lottery system adding an extra layer of unpredictability.
In an unprecedented move, the United States has set new travel and employment restrictions for foreign workers, severely impacting seasonal businesses that rely on foreign labor. Countries across Europe are feeling the pinch as the US imposes new caps on visa applications for 2026, and workers from more than 35 European nations now face tough challenges in securing the visas they need to enter the US.
The new restrictions, which come in the form of capped visa numbers, aim to control the number of foreign workers allowed into the United States under temporary employment visas. With industries such as landscaping, hospitality, seafood processing, construction, and more heavily relying on foreign labor, the implications of these caps are far-reaching. Countries from all across Europe are now in a race against time to secure their place in the limited pool of available work visas.
As of February 6, 2026, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received an overwhelming number of petitions, surpassing the cap for the additional 18,490 H-2B visas set aside for returning workers in the first allocation for fiscal year (FY) 2026. These visas are intended for workers whose employment begins between January 1 and March 31, 2026, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2026 TFR). Due to the high volume of applications, USCIS conducted a random selection process on February 13, 2026, for the petitions submitted from February 2 to February 6, 2026.
Petitions that were not selected in the lottery will be rejected and returned along with the associated filing fees, as per the guidelines. This marks the end of the first allocation for returning worker visas for the 2026 fiscal year. The decision to increase the number of available H-2B visas was made following a joint announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) on January 30, 2026, which introduced a temporary final rule. This rule allows for an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for FY 2026 to help businesses facing critical worker shortages.
The supplemental visas are designed for businesses experiencing irreparable harm without the ability to employ the workers they need. As part of the new rules, employers must attest to this harm on a new attestation form when applying for visas. These supplemental visas are distributed in three allocations, with 46,226 visas reserved for returning workers who were issued an H-2B visa or had H-2B status in any of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 18,490 visas are open to employers needing workers for late-season jobs from May 1 to September 30, 2026.
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The Key Details: How the Visa Caps Work
At the heart of this issue lies the temporary work visa system implemented by the United States government. The cap, which limits the number of visas available for foreign workers, is part of the government’s effort to address the growing demand for seasonal labor in certain industries. This year, due to various factors, the US has introduced tough new caps that have not only created uncertainty for workers but also for businesses that rely on these workers for seasonal operations.
In 2026, the cap for non-immigrant workers has been reduced significantly for seasonal work, creating chaos for many countries that send workers to the US. This includes countries from all across Europe.
The new visa cap structure includes the following:
- Statutory Cap: The US has a fixed annual cap of 66,000 temporary work visas for seasonal workers, divided into two halves:
- 33,000 visas for employment between October 1 to March 31
- 33,000 visas for employment between April 1 to September 30
In addition to this base cap, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have introduced 64,716 supplemental visas for the 2026 fiscal year. These visas are divided into three allocations:
- First Allocation (January 1 – March 31, 2026): 18,490 visas reserved for returning workers.
- Second Allocation (April 1 – April 30, 2026): 27,736 visas reserved for returning workers.
- Third Allocation (May 1 – September 30, 2026): 18,490 visas available for all eligible workers, not limited to returning workers.
However, the first allocation has already been reached, with more petitions than available visas during the filing window. This has led to a lottery system where only a small percentage of applicants will be successful in securing a visa.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The countries most affected by the new visa caps are those that consistently send seasonal workers to the US. The newly imposed restrictions have placed significant strain on workers from several European countries, who now face an uphill battle to secure one of the limited visas available.
The following European countries are now in the race to secure H-2B visas for their citizens:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus)
- Czech Republic (Czechia)
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
These countries have a significant number of workers who seek temporary, non-agricultural work in the US, primarily in industries like hospitality, construction, landscaping, and seafood processing.
For many of these countries, particularly those with a strong tradition of sending workers to the US for seasonal employment, the new caps represent a substantial disruption. Workers from Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries are particularly hard hit, as they often represent a large portion of the seasonal workforce.
The Impact of the US Visa Caps on European Workers
The visa cap directly affects workers from these countries, as many of them now face the reality of competition in a significantly reduced pool of available visas. In particular, seasonal businesses in the US that rely on workers from countries such as Poland, Romania, Turkey, and the Ukraine will experience significant disruptions, as there will be fewer workers available to fill positions.
For businesses in industries like landscaping, seafood processing, and construction, the impact of not having enough available workers could be devastating. Many businesses, especially those operating in peak seasons, could struggle to meet demand, leading to delays and shortages.
Additionally, there is the issue of economic uncertainty for many workers who depend on US visas for income. As they wait for news of whether they will be selected in the lottery, the tension builds. For some, a denied application could result in financial instability, especially for those who rely on their seasonal work to support their families back home.
Key Dates and Filing Timelines
As of February 6, 2026, the first allocation of 18,490 supplemental visas for returning workers was filled, and USCIS conducted a lottery to select petitions received from February 2 to February 6, 2026. Petitions that were not selected will be rejected and returned, with filing fees refunded.
Future allocations are now opening, with the following key filing timelines:
- Second Allocation: Employers seeking workers with start dates from April 1 to April 30, 2026 can file petitions no earlier than 15 days after USCIS announces that the second half of the statutory cap has been reached.
- Third Allocation: Employers seeking workers with start dates from May 1 to September 30, 2026 can file petitions no earlier than 45 days after the second half cap announcement and no later than September 15, 2026.
The deadline for accepting petitions under this temporary rule is September 15, 2026. After that date, no more petitions will be accepted, and any pending petitions not approved by October 1, 2026, will be denied, with no refunds issued for filing fees.
The Role of Returning Workers
The definition of returning workers plays a significant role in the visa process. Workers who were issued an H-2B visa or held H-2B status in FY 2023, 2024, or 2025 qualify as returning workers. For the first two allocations, visas are specifically reserved for returning workers.
The third allocation, however, does not have this limitation and is open to all eligible workers, regardless of whether they have worked in the US in previous years.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Employers and Workers?
As the caps and lottery systems continue to evolve, the coming months will determine the fate of thousands of workers and employers who are currently left in uncertainty. Employers must navigate the complexities of the new regulations, ensuring that they meet all requirements and deadlines in order to secure their workers for the upcoming season.
For workers, particularly those from affected European nations, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. With limited visa availability and the need to compete in a lottery system, securing a visa will be a tough battle.
The United States’ decision to impose new caps on visa applications has created a perfect storm for seasonal workers from across Europe. With over 35 countries affected, including some of Europe’s strongest labor-exporting nations, workers are scrambling to secure their place in a fiercely competitive system.
As these visa caps continue to take hold, businesses in the US that rely on seasonal foreign labor face the difficult reality of fewer workers, while employees in Europe face the uncertainty of whether they will be able to secure a visa for the upcoming season. The implications are far-reaching, affecting not only seasonal industries but also the economy of the countries impacted by these new US visa restrictions.
Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Poland, France, Romania, Denmark, and over thirty-five countries in Europe are hit hard by tough new US visa restrictions as the US imposes strict caps on H-2B visas for the 2026 fiscal year. These limits, aimed at controlling the flow of foreign workers, create significant barriers for seasonal industries that depend on workers from these European nations.
In the coming months, the US will continue to enforce these caps, and European workers will have to adapt to the new challenges brought about by this restrictive immigration policy. Whether they succeed or not will depend largely on the timing, luck, and ability to navigate a difficult and uncertain visa process.
