In my column This week's Consulta Migratoria® I write about the federal government's recent announcement naming the countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B visas in 2016.
Each case is different. Please consult with an immigration attorney for personalized legal advice before beginning any proceedings.
This is the column:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that citizens of 84 countries will be eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2016.
These visas allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to work temporarily in the United States.
H-2A visas are for temporary agricultural employment, while H-2B visas are for temporary non-agricultural employment.
With few exceptions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only approves petitions from nationals of countries that DHS deems eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B program.
As of January 18, 2016, the Latin American countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs are as follows:
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay.
Spain and Portugal are also on the list.
You can see the complete list of all countries here.
This new list does not affect the status of individuals currently holding H-2A or H-2B visas.
The new list of eligible countries is announced in the Federal Register and is valid for one year from the date of publication.
Not everyone is eligible for an H-2A or H-2B visa. As always, I recommend that you consult with an immigration attorney or a federally accredited representative before beginning any immigration proceedings.
For more information and immigration tips, read my blog InmigracionHoy.com.
