MAINE PUBLIC • November 18, 2024
Maine's congressional delegation is welcoming a federal decision to release additional temporary work visas. The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday it would release an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for fiscal year 2025. That's on top of the baseline 66,000 visas mandated by Congress. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King said the decision will provide relief for Maine businesses struggling with a tight labor market. Dozens of Maine businesses, including many in the tourism sector, rely on the foreign guest worker program to staff seasonal, non-agricultural positions. According to federal data, more than 27,000 workers were approved for Maine-based employers in 2024.