Collins calls for authorization of more H-2B visas to help fill jobs in Maine’s hospitality industry

Maine (WABI) – Senator Collins is hoping to give a boost to Maine’s tourism industry by allowing more people who need an H-2B visa to work in it.

Collins recently called on the Acting Secretary of the Department of Labor to authorize additional H-2B visas to help fill open jobs in Maine’s hospitality industry.

Collins says last year, 15 million tourists – more than 10 times the state’s population – visited Maine, spending more than nine billion dollars.

“What I would like to see, is the federal government increase the number of this special visa called an H-2B visa, that is a temporary work permit that allows people from other countries who have been vetted to come here for our tourism season, and then they return home. That has worked very well, but unfortunately, the number of these visas is much too low,” Collins adds.

She says she’s also pushing to see a return to a Bush Administration policy, the Return Worker Exemption.

A worker from another country who had come to Maine to work in the tourism business for the summer and then went back home had an expedited process for coming back the next year.

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