Restrictions on the issuance of new H-2B and other nonimmigrant visas ended on March 31, 2021, and the U.S. State Department soon after announced that it would begin to process new applications. Beginning last spring and extending through March 31, 2021, now-former President Trump had issued repeated proclamations that suspended the issuance of new nonimmigrant visas in an effort to protect the domestic labor force during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week’s announcement by the State Department paves the way for horse trainers, and other employers who utilize the affected guest worker visa programs, to submit new applications. Horse trainers rely on the H-2B visa program to fill various demanding backside positions and often struggle to secure enough workers due in part to the congressionally mandated annual cap of 66,000 that is placed on these visas. The months-long suspension of new H-2B applications that expired last week put additional pressure on trainers.

“We are pleased that President Biden allowed the suspension of new H-2B visa applications to expire,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “Trainers have shared with me their labor concerns and, although this is welcome news, the NTRA will continue to advocate for comprehensive reform and improvement in the guest worker visa programs used by the horse racing and breeding industry.”

New visa applicants and those who had been previously denied are encouraged to apply at this time. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in February that it had received enough petitions to reach the 33,000 H-2B visa cap for the second half of fiscal year 2021 that ends on September 30. More visas could become available due to a provision within December’s Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that provides the DHS with discretionary authority to release an additional 64,716 H-2B visas when sufficient need is demonstrated.