Immigration Survey

1
Unleash Prosperity Now is surveying employers to better understand the impact of the additional 64,716 H-2B visas released for this year and how the timing of visa allocations is affecting seasonal businesses.

Due to the structure of the supplemental visa release, nearly half of employers were not selected in the lottery for the additional visas available for the first half of the year. As a result, many businesses that expected workers to arrive in mid- to late-March will instead see those workers arrive closer to early May.

For seasonal businesses that rely on these workers to meet peak demand, even a short delay can have significant operational and financial consequences. Employers may face lost revenue, unfulfilled contracts, reduced services, or disruptions to hiring and business planning.

The purpose of this survey is to better understand how these timing delays are affecting employers and their ability to operate. Your responses will help inform policymakers and stakeholders about the real-world impacts of current visa allocation policies.

All responses will be kept confidential and reported only in aggregate.

Thank you for sharing your experience.
2
Which occupation best describes your business? (Select one)
Landscaping
Golf Course Maintenance
Hospitality / Resorts
Seafood Processing
Outdoor Amusement
Construction
Other
3
City and State Of Your Business
4
What is the size of your business in revenue?
Please Select
Please Select
<$1,000,000
$1,000,000-$2,500,000
$2,500,000-$5,000,000
$5,000,000-$10,000,000
>$10,000,000
5
What is your ideal worker start date?
January
February
March
April
May
Other
6
How many total workers (Americans and guest workers) do you employ during your peak season (total payroll)?
7
How late do you expect your workers to arrive?
2 weeks or less
1 month
1-2 months
2 months or more
8
What is your total H-2B worker need for the 2026 season?
9
Did you apply for a January, February, or March start date?
YESNO
10
What lottery “bucket” were you placed in for the April allocation?
Please Select
Please Select
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
11
Were you receipted under the first-half returning worker supplemental allocation?
YESNO
12
Because you will receive your H-2B workers, what impact will it have on your operations (check all that apply)
·Hire additional management level American workers
Pursue new contracts
Purchase new equipment
Purchase additional supplies
Expand services (restaurant hours, add room inventory)
Take on new capital projects
13
Estimated value of materials / equipment purchased, new capital projects as result of receiving your H-2B workers:
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
$100,000-$250,000
$250,000-$500,000
$500,000-$1,000,000
>$1,000,000
14
When will your workers now arrive?
Please Select
Please Select
Late April
Early May
Mid to Late May
June or later
Unsure
15
Estimated revenue loss due to delayed worker arrival:
Less than $50,000
$50,000–$100,000
$100,000–$250,000
$500,000-$1,000,000
>$1,000,0000
16
As a result of delayed worker arrival, has your business:
Lost contracts
Paid liquidated damages
Reduced services or operating hours
Raised prices
Laid off American workers
Reduced hiring of American workers
Turned away customers
None of the above
17
Have you already purchased materials or equipment in anticipation of workers arriving in March?
YESNO
18
Do you anticipate having to lay off American workers?
YESNO
19
Will you be profitable?
YESNO
20
Do you anticipate having to permanently reduce the size of your business?
YESNO
21
Did you file an April 1st backup application?
YESNO
22
What bucket assignment did you receive?
Please Select
Please Select
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
23
When will your workers arrive?
Please Select
Please Select
Early April
Early May
Late May
June or later
Unsure
24
Because you will receive your H-2B workers, what impact will it have on your operations (check all that apply)
Hire additional management level American workers
Pursue new contracts
Purchase new equipment
Purchase additional supplies
Expand services (restaurant hours, add room inventory)
Take on new capital projects
25
Estimated value of materials / equipment purchased, new capital projects as result of receiving your H-2B workers:
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
$100,000-$250,000
$250,000-$500,000
$500,000-$1,000,000
>$1,000,000
26
How many American worker applicants did you receive for your advertised H-2B positions? (text box answer so responder can enter exact number of workers)
27
On a scale of 1–5, how severe is the impact of worker arrival being delayed until early May?(1 = Minimal Impact, 5 = Severe / Existential Threat)
1
2
3
4
5
28
In your own words, describe how this delay has affected your business.
Huge
Large
Normal
Small
Ok
Ok
29
Who did you vote for in the 2024 election?
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
Did not vote
Other
30
Does the visa release and President Trump’s support of the Certified Seasonal Employer Designation make you more or less likely to support Republicans in the mid-term election?
More likely
Less likely
No change
31
Should be Empty: