H-2 Visa Shortages Affect Ski Resorts

First Tracks Online Ski Magazine reports that high demand for the number of H-2B visas has caused problems at ski resorts, which traditionally have relied on the visa to address seasonal hiring needs.

However, as the government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30th, the H-2b’s visa were capped under the quota earlier than opening day for many winter resorts.

The article recommends that employers needing to address staffing issues consider alternate visas, such as O-1, P-1, H-1B and E-3 visas. H-1B visas are for those coming to the U.S. to fill specialty occupation (i.e. professional) positions, while the E-3 is essentially a variant of the H-1B that is limited to Australian citizens. The O-1 and P-1 visas are for individuals with exceptional or extraordinary ability. Unfortunately, none of these alternate visas is especially useful for low-level employees who have neither a Bachelor's degree nor unique skills.