(April 30, 2021) In an effort to quell resortwide staffing struggles, the same international workers who were once reserved for seafood packing houses and farm labor are taking on new roles at some Ocean City businesses this year.
Each year, a set number of H-2B Nonimmigrant Temporary Worker visas are granted to individuals from foreign countries for six months to come to the United States and work for money to send home to their families. Businesses apply for certification to hire them and receive a number based on a lottery system. The workers are adults, not students like those who come from the J-1 student work and travel program, and typically perform manual labor â until this year.