DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

In this blog post, we share with you the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs next year.

By law, DHS has the authority to update the eligible countries lists at any time by publishing a notice in the Federal Register, if the agency determines that a country fails to meet the requirements for continued designation.

The H-2A and H-2B visa programs enable U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively.

USCIS approves H-2A and H-2B petitions only for nationals of countries that the secretary of homeland security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs. However, USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions, including those that were pending as of the date of publication of the Federal Register Notice, for nationals of countries not on the lists on a case-by-case basis only if doing so is determined to be in the interest of the United States.

Beginning November 10, nationals of the following countries are eligible to receive H-2A and H-2B visas, including the Kingdom of Eswatini (Eswatini) which was recently added to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs.

To view the complete notice in the Federal Register please click here.

List of Eligible Countries

*Mongolia and the Philippines are eligible to participate in the H-2B program but are not eligible to participate in the H-2A program.

**Paraguay is eligible to participate in the H-2A program but is not eligible to participate in the H-2B program.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

Helpful Links

• DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
• H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Webpage
• H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
• Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs
• USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Respond to RFEs
• DOS Youtube Channel
• DOS Visa Services Operating Status Update
• ImmigrationLawyerBlog
• ImmigrationU Membership 
• Success stories
• Youtube channel 

JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.

For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.