Skip to main content
This is the USCIS preview website. Visit uscis.gov for the official USCIS site.
USCIS Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government    Here's how you know
Español
Multilingual Resources
Official Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Website

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
 
Sign In  
Access USCIS online services.
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
Sign In
Create Account
Horizontal Menu
  • Topics
  • Forms
  • Newsroom
  • Citizenship
  • Green Card
  • Laws
  • Tools
  • Contact us
  • Multilingual Resources
  • Ask Emma
Main navigation
Skip to main content
  • Archive
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Archive
  3. USCIS Announces 63 Countries Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

USCIS Announces 63 Countries Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

Archived Content

The information on this page is out of date. However, some of the content may still be useful, so we have archived the page.

Release Date
01/17/2014

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, has added Austria, Italy, Panama, and Thailand to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year. The notice listing the 63 eligible countries published January 17, 2014 in the Federal Register.  

The H-2A and H-2B Visa programs allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively. Generally, USCIS only approves H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries the secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs.  USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries not on the list if it is determined to be in the interest of the United States.

Effective Jan. 18, 2014, nationals of the following 63 countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs:

Argentina

Fiji

Mexico

Slovakia

Australia

Grenada

Moldova

Slovenia

Austria

Guatemala

Montenegro

Solomon Islands

Barbados

Haiti

Nauru

South Africa

Belize

Honduras

The Netherlands

South Korea

Brazil

Hungary

Nicaragua

Spain

Bulgaria

Iceland

New Zealand

Switzerland

Canada

Ireland

Norway

Thailand

Chile

Israel

Panama

Tonga

Costa Rica

Italy

Papua New Guinea

Turkey

Croatia

Jamaica

Peru

Tuvalu

Dominican Republic

Japan

The Philippines

Ukraine

Ecuador

Kiribati

Poland

United Kingdom

El Salvador

Latvia

Romania

Uruguay

Estonia

Lithuania

Samoa

Vanuatu

Ethiopia

Macedonia

Serbia

 

This notice does not affect the status of beneficiaries who currently are in the United States in H-2A or H-2B status unless they apply to change or extend their status.  Each country’s designation is valid for one year from January 18, 2014.

For more information on USCIS and its programs please visit www.uscis.gov.   

Last Reviewed/Updated:
01/17/2014
Was this page helpful?
0 / 2000
To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. Review our Privacy Policy.
Return to top
  • Topics
  • Forms
  • Newsroom
  • Citizenship
  • Green Card
  • Laws
  • Tools
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
Email
Contact USCIS
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal

USCIS.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Important links
  • About USCIS
  • Accessibility
  • Budget and Performance
  • DHS Components
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Privacy and Legal Disclaimers
  • Site Map
  • Office of the Inspector General
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov