How Jamaicans can apply for H-2A and H-2B VISA to work in the US of A

“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 20^th 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:

List of job hunting websites

Instructions on how to apply for a Non-immigrant US VISA

Non-Immigrant US VISA Application DS-160 Form

Non-Immigrant US VISA Application Fees