The change and its date
DHS's H-2 final rule took effect January 17, 2025.
The rule strengthened worker protections and program integrity while adding specified flexibilities, including portability and grace-period provisions.
Current status
Effective, with current Form I-129 and program-specific Department of Labor requirements.
This status is stated as of September 5, 2026. Readers should check the linked agency page before relying on it because court orders, implementation instructions, form editions, and agency guidance can change.
Why the distinction matters
Recruitment fees, prohibited charges, employer conduct, job changes, and status timing can affect both worker protection and petition compliance.
An announcement date, publication date, effective date, filing date, and decision date can produce different consequences. Keep a dated copy of the official instruction that governed the action actually taken.
Practical preparation steps
This archive explains public information; it is not individualized legal advice. Do not change status, travel, employment, benefits, or filing strategy without checking the current rule and obtaining qualified legal advice where needed.
- Give workers accurate written terms
- Document that prohibited fees were not collected
- Check portability requirements before new employment starts
- Coordinate USCIS and Department of Labor obligations