§ 655.69 Special document retention provisions for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2029 under the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, Public Law 119-37.

(a) An employer who files a petition with USCIS to employ H-2B workers in fiscal year 2026 under authority of the temporary increase in the numerical limitation under section 101 of Division A, Public Law 119-37 must maintain for a period of three (3) years from the date of certification, consistent with 20 CFR 655.56 and 29 CFR 503.17, the following: (1) A copy of the attestation filed pursuant to regulations in 8 CFR 214.2 governing that temporary increase; (2) Evidence establishing, at the time of filing the I-129 petition and as attested to in the attestation form, that the employer's business is suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm (that is, permanent and severe financial loss) without the ability to employ all of the H-2B workers requested on the petition filed pursuant to 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xvi), including a detailed written statement describing the irreparable harm and how such evidence shows irreparable harm; (3) Documentary evidence establishing that each of the workers the employer requested and/or instructed to apply for a visa, whether named or unnamed on a petition filed pursuant to 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(xvi), have been issued an H-2B visa or otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three (3) fiscal years (fiscal year 2023, 2024, or 2025), unless the H-2B worker is counted towards the 18,490 cap described in section (h)(6)(xvi)(A)(1)(iii); and (b) DOL or DHS may inspect these documents upon request. (c) This section expires on October 1, 2029.