H-2B Visa Program

GCSAA supports H-2B cap relief language passed by Congress either as a permanent statutory change to the program or as part of the annual Department of Homeland Security appropriation bills. The language should either raise the low H-2B visa annual cap or exempt workers from the cap if they have received an H-2B visa during one or more of the previous fiscal years. It should also create a system in which H-2B visas for new workers would be allocated on a proportional basis if the cap is reached so that all employers will receive a percentage of H-2B workers.

GCSAA supports long term H-2B relief that will ensure that seasonal employers such as golf will be able to rely on the H-2B visa program to plan for future business growth. Seasonal employers also need the certainty of a well-run H-2B program to reduce processing delays and ensure access to a safe, legal and reliable temporary workforce. The DOL should streamline and expedite processing of H-2B visa applications. GCSAA also supports the use of private wage surveys to help set the mandatory minimum wages paid to H-2B workers.

The federal H-2B visa program is used by U.S. golf facilities to secure legal employees when they cannot fill seasonal jobs with American workers despite intensive recruitment efforts. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) must certify that qualified workers are not available in the U.S. and that the foreign worker’s employment will not adversely affect wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The program's congressionally mandated cap of 66,000 (33,000 for each half of the fiscal year) has been consistently inadequate to meet the seasonal needs of small businesses in a strong economy.

According to DOL statistics, in 2006, golf facilities (including resorts) asked for approximately 26,000 H-2B visa workers – of that number over 7,700 were for golf course maintenance positions. The number of H-2B visa workers in the golf industry declined with the country’s economic decline. Requests for H-2B visa workers at golf facilities increases as the economy rebuilds and there is more competition for seasonal labor.

The H-2B visa program has been under attack since 2009. DOL has tried to finalize a series of regulations that would significantly increase the hourly wages that must be paid to H-2B workers as well as revamp the program entirely thereby making it difficult if not impossible for small, seasonal employers to use. Congress has held many of these regulations at bay. Further, there are many in Congress and the Administration who wrongly believe the program takes jobs from Americans when instead it fills jobs that would otherwise remain vacant. A continued lobbying effort is necessary to ensure it provides valuable workers for golf.

By filling temporary jobs, H-2B workers not only keep businesses open, they contribute to the creation of year-round jobs for American workers. Studies show that every H-2B position supports 4.6 American jobs.

• H-2B Workforce Coalition
• Save Small Business Coalition