Contreras Law Group, LLC

03/23/2026

📢 H-2B Update: On Friday evening, USCIS announced that the H-2B cap for April 1 start date cases was reached on March 10.

On the DOL side, processing continues to move forward, with the agency currently a little over halfway through Group E applications.

Supplemental Visas – Key Update:
➡️For employers with start dates between April 1 and April 30, DHS has allocated 27,736 supplemental visas, limited to returning workers (those who held H-2B status in FY 2023, 2024, or 2025).
➡️ Filing for these supplemental visas opens on March 25.

As always, timing and strategy are critical in navigating the H-2B process—especially in a cap-reached environment. If you have questions about eligibility or filing strategy, feel free to reach out.

02/10/2026

✨ New Pro-Bono Citizenship Initiative ✨

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a life-changing milestone—but for many families, the process can feel overwhelming and out of reach.

At Contreras Law Group, we’re proud to launch our Pro-Bono Citizenship Initiative, designed to help eligible lawful permanent residents take the final step toward U.S. citizenship at no legal cost.

🇺🇸 Why citizenship matters:
✔ Security and permanent status
✔ The right to vote and fully participate in civic life
✔ Protection from deportation
✔ Expanded opportunities for family, employment, and travel
✔ A stronger sense of belonging and stability

Through this initiative, our team is donating time and legal expertise to guide applicants through the naturalization process with the same care and attention we give every client.

If you—or someone you know—may qualify for U.S. citizenship and needs help, we encourage you to reach out or share this post. Sometimes, the right guidance makes all the difference. Please click on this link to request information: https://contreras-lawgroup.com/pro-bono-citizenship

💙 Building permanent futures. Strengthening our communities.

01/31/2026

Good news! The Department of Homeland Security has officially published the FY 2026 H-2B Supplemental Final Rule in the Federal Register. DHS has confirmed that it will release the maximum number of supplemental visas authorized by law — 64,716 additional H-2B visas.

This is a substantial increase from the 35,000 visas previously anticipated and represents a very positive development for employers who rely on the H-2B program.

Visa Allocations by Start Date:

January 1 – March 31, 2026
• 18,490 visas
• Limited to returning workers (workers who held H-2B status in FY 2023, 2024, or 2025)

April 1 – April 30, 2026
• 27,736 visas, plus any unused visas from the first allocation
• Limited to returning workers (FY 2023, 2024, or 2025)

May 1 – September 30, 2026
• 18,490 visas, plus any unused visas from the first and second allocations
• Returning worker requirement does not apply — these visas may be used for new workers

Please note: There is no separate allocation for named countries this year, unlike what we have seen in recent years.

10/01/2024

I recently attended the Seasonal Employment Alliance meeting on beautiful Mackinac Island, where we discussed key issues around H-2B visas, including legislative reforms like the Seasonal Employment Protection Act, which would benefit employers facing seasonal workforce shortages. I also had the opportunity to visit our many clients on Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, and St Ignace.

https://mcontreraslaw.com/f/michele-contreras-joins-the-seasonal-employment-alliance-meeting?fbclid=IwY2xjawFpWHFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZSeQkz3-VOnqzty8x5sAKqo9SQViCT88sThBmI-8WTUoBjx5G0iHebCxg_aem_c7ki5deDLG3HX0PLKR4egw

By: Michele A. Contreras, Esq.

08/09/2024

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/05/usas-olympic-team-is-bolstered-by-a-crucial-group-of-athletes-immigrants?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-08-08-2024&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8YGEnwyd6k5EhdDIJWrMajk_WyhfWEjYop72gxpEiJwGIDuZR58Do-W3tDK4hLNOjQf8ypaeX1rImKBoyJZmAG-je-Ng&_hsmi=319351281&utm_content=319351281&utm_source=hs_email

Many of those with the American contingent in Paris have chosen to represent a country where some have vilified people like them

07/04/2024

From the founding fathers to the pioneers of industry, immigrants have made invaluable contributions to our society. This Independence Day, let's celebrate the diversity that immigrants bring to our country and honor their continued impact on our nation. Join us in recognizing and appreciating the contributions of immigrants to America. Let's come together to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the United States.
Happy Independence Day!

06/25/2024

Help Needed ASAP to Preserve House Appropriations H-2B Cap Language

As you know, during the recent House Appropriations Committee Markup of the FY 25 Department of Homeland Security bill (DHS), the committee passed amendment offered by Reps. Harris (R-MD), Pingree (D-ME), Moolenaar (R-MI), Cuellar (D-TX), Joyce (R-OH) and Ruppersberger (D-MD) that would enhance the existing H-2B discretionary cap language by mandating that DHS release supplemental visas when the needs of seasonal businesses cannot be filled with US workers. The amendment would require DHS release an additional 64,716 H-2B visas when the cap is reached, rather than giving DHS the discretion to release those visas.

The House Rules Committee is meeting at 2pm tomorrow to determine which amendments may be offered to the bill when it is considered on the House Floor as early as this week. While no amendment has been filed to strip the H-2B amendment from the bill, there are rumors that the language could be changed in a manager’s amendment before the bill moves to the House floor. Groups like NumbersUSA are actively opposing the bill’s H-2B language.

WE NEED YOU TO DO THE FOLLOWING BY TOMORROW MORNING PLEASE

• Call your Representative and tell him or her that you support the H-2B language in the Committee-passed FY 25 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. You can reach your Representative through the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the staff person to handles DHS appropriations. Tell the staff person that you support for the H-2B cap relief in the committee-passed FY 25 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The committee-passed bill includes bipartisan H-2B language, adopted by voice vote, that maintains the status quo from the previous two years, expedites the process to access the supplemental visas and provides much needed certainty for seasonal businesses.

• Send an email to your representative using the link below. Thanks to the National Association of Landscape Professionals for setting up this email tool.


As you know, the coalition is also sending letters to House leadership, House Rules Committee and House Appropriations Committee this afternoon. We appreciate everyone signing onto those letters and will share the final versions as soon as they are delivered to the Hill.

Thanks for all you do to .

06/17/2024

https://mcontreraslaw.com/f/celebrating-12-years-of-daca

By: Michele A. Contreras, Esq.

05/03/2024

Previously barred from Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, over 100,000 DACA recipients will now have access to affordable, quality healthcare starting in November through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces, with financial assistance available.

By: Michele A. Contreras, Esq.

05/03/2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that immigration medical examinations and vaccination records completed on or after November 1, 2023, no longer expire and can be used indefinitely in applications to rule out inadmissibility for health-related reasons.

By: Emily Carria, Esq.