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Policy Manual
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
      • Part A - Nonimmigrant Policies and Procedures
      • Part B - Diplomatic and International Organization Personnel (A, G)
      • Part C - Visitors for Business or Tourism (B)
      • Part D - Exchange Visitors (J)
      • Part E - Cultural Visitors (Q)
      • Part F - Students (F, M)
      • Part G - Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors (E-1, E-2)
      • Part H - Specialty Occupation Workers (H-1B, E-3)
      • Part I - Temporary Agricultural and Nonagricultural Workers (H-2)
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Eligibility for Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Classification [Reserved]
        • Chapter 3 - Documentation and Evidence for Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Classification [Reserved]
        • Chapter 4 - Adjudication of Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 5 - Post-Adjudication Issues related to Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 6 - Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions Requiring Special Handling [Reserved]
        • Chapter 7 - Eligibility for Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Classification [Reserved]
        • Chapter 8 - Documentation and Evidence for Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Classification [Reserved]
        • Chapter 9 - Adjudication of Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 10 - Post-Adjudication Issues related to Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions [Reserved]
        • Chapter 11 - Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions Requiring Special Handling
      • Part J - Trainees (H-3)
      • Part K - Media Representatives (I)
      • Part L - Intracompany Transferees (L)
      • Part M - Nonimmigrants of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O)
      • Part N - Athletes and Entertainers (P)
      • Part O - Religious Workers (R)
      • Part P - NAFTA Professionals (TN)
      • Part Q - Nonimmigrants Intending to Adjust Status (K, V)
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
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  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
  4. Part I - Temporary Agricultural and Nonagricultural Workers (H-2)

Part I - Temporary Agricultural and Nonagricultural Workers (H-2)

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  • Guidance
  • Resources (9)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (6)
  • History (0)

In May 2020, USCIS retired its Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), a collection of our immigration policies and procedures.

In May 2020, USCIS retired its Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), a collection of our immigration policies and procedures. We are working quickly to update and incorporate all of the AFM content into the USCIS Policy Manual, the agency’s centralized online repository for immigration policies. Until then, we have moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding Policy Manual Part. To the extent that a provision in the Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the Policy Manual prevails. If you have questions or concerns about any discrepancies among these resources, contact PolicyFeedback@uscis.dhs.gov.

AFM Chapter 31 - Petitions for Temporary Workers (H Classifications) (External) (PDF, 605.62 KB)

Resources

Legal Authorities

8 CFR 214.2(h) - Temporary employees

INA 101(a)(15)(H) - Alien coming temporarily to the United States to perform services

INA 214(c) - Admission of nonimmigrants

Pub. L. 110-229 (PDF) - Section 702 of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, as amended - Immigration reform for the Commonwealth

Pub. L. 115-232 (PDF) - Section 1045 of the FY 2019 NDAA - Workforce issues for military realignments in the Pacific

Pub. L. 115-91 (PDF) - Section 1049 of the FY 2018 NDAA - Workforce issues for military realignments in the Pacific

Pub. L. 116-283 (PDF) - Section 9502 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021 NDAA) - Workforce issues for military realignments in the Pacific

Forms

I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Other Materials

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 2.99 MB)

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Clarifying the Temporary Need Exemption for Certain H-2B Workers on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

February 08, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how a petitioner may demonstrate that it qualifies for an exemption from the temporary need requirement for a nonimmigrant visa petition for a temporary nonagricultural H-2B worker on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) that falls under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021 NDAA).

Read More
Affected Sections

2 USCIS-PM I.11 - Chapter 11 - Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions Requiring Special Handling

POLICY ALERT - Exemption to the Temporary Need Requirement for Certain H-2B Workers on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

May 13, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the filing and adjudication of temporary nonagricultural worker (H-2B) nonimmigrant visa petitions that fall under Section 9502 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021 NDAA).

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Affected Sections

2 USCIS-PM I - Part I - Temporary Agricultural and Nonagricultural Workers (H-2)

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule

September 02, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective October 2, 2020. For information regarding implementation, see Appendix: 2020 Fee Rule Litigation Summary.

Read More
Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Public Services

1 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Submission of Benefit Requests

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

7 USCIS-PM F - Part F - Special Immigrant-Based (EB-4) Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM M - Part M - Asylee Adjustment

11 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Secure Identity Documents Policies and Procedures

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 350.49 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Version History

No historical versions available.

0
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  • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
  • Chapter 2 - Eligibility for Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Classification [Reserved]
  • Chapter 3 - Documentation and Evidence for Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Classification [Reserved]
  • Chapter 4 - Adjudication of Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 5 - Post-Adjudication Issues related to Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 6 - Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions Requiring Special Handling [Reserved]
  • Chapter 7 - Eligibility for Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Classification [Reserved]
  • Chapter 8 - Documentation and Evidence for Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Classification [Reserved]
  • Chapter 9 - Adjudication of Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 10 - Post-Adjudication Issues related to Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions [Reserved]
  • Chapter 11 - Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Petitions Requiring Special Handling
Current as of March 15, 2023
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