“Typically,
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
programmes. USCIS, however, 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”
USCIS (United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services) announcing the addition of five (5)
Caribbean countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B VISAs
Jamaicans,
this may be your lucky day to get work in the US of A, especially if you are
planning to attend college in the US of A as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why Technology Companies are Seeking
Engineers”.
Just
when you though Canada was the only place that you could go to get work abroad
as skilled worker as noted in my blog article
entitled “How
to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - Immigrating Permanently to work in
Canada as a Skilled Worker with a Degree makes you the Best Man Down”, the
US of A decided to toss us a line.
 |
On
Friday November 20th 2015, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services) announced that Several Caribbean countries will be
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B VISA programmes come Monday
January 18, 2016 as reported in the article “Jamaica
to participate in US VISA programme”, published Sunday, November 22, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.
As
you may have guessed, one of those five countries is Jamaica, as listed below:
1.
Barbados
2.
Belize
3.
Grenada
4.
Haiti
5.
Jamaica
This
decision was arrived at after extensive consultation by USCIS with the
Department of State and DHS (Department of Homeland Security), making us a part
of the sixty eight (68) countries that are chosen annually to participate in
the Sixty-eight countries globally are eligible for H-2A and H-2B VISAs.
This
means that employers can now file for Jamaicans workers to fill temporary
agricultural and non-agricultural jobs. Already, GLALS (Great Lakes Agricultural Labour
Services) from Michigan is looking to employ Jamaicans to work on their farms
as reported in the article “US
employers looking to recruit Jamaican farm workers”, published Thursday,
November 19, 2015, The Jamaica
Observer.
Good
to note that the USCIS can change their mind at any time but this announcement
doesn’t affect the status of those currently on the program.
How to find work in the
US of A – Jamaicans can link you, Job Placement services or Online Search
This
is great news for Jamaicans, as Canada is really cold in the Winter and in the
Spring, when it becomes very cold and anything can happen to you. Finding work
in the US of A is mainly via links i.e. fellow Jamaicans finding a job for you.
Please
note that if you are a Jamaican attending college in the US of A, you can also
do some of the legwork yourself to help out your friend via Job hunting on various websites as
listed in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why Technology Companies are Seeking
Engineers”.
So
having the USA as an option for Work abroad on their H-2A and H-2B VISA Program
is a great option for us Jamaicans not so fond of immigrating to Canada!!
Still, I wouldn't mind if they reduced the VISA Fee as well, as US$160 for a US
Non-immigrant VISA application is a waay too high!!
Here's
the link:
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