What Happens After My H-2B Visa Expires?

Short answer: The worker must leave the U.S. or be on a valid extension—there’s no grace period to stay and work.

The Basic Rule

H-2B status is tied to:

• A specific employer

• A defined period of need

Once that period ends:

👉 The worker is expected to depart the U.S. unless an extension or new status is in place.

What Options Exist

At the end of the visa period, a worker may:

• Leave the U.S. (most common)

• Extend status (if eligible and timely filed)

• Change status to another visa (if qualified)

👉 Otherwise, they cannot remain or continue working.

What This Means for Employers

• Employment must stop at the end of the approved period

• You cannot continue employing the worker off the books

• Planning for the end of the season is part of the process

One Important Detail

Workers generally have a short window to prepare to depart, but:

👉 They are not authorized to keep working beyond the approved dates.

The Reality

H-2B is designed to be temporary from start to finish.

There’s a clear entry point—and a clear exit.

Bottom Line

When the visa ends, the employment ends.

If you want to keep the worker, you need a valid extension or a different immigration strategy in place ahead of time.