The H-2A visa allows US agricultural employers to bring foreign workers from eligible countries to the United States to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. In this article, you will find the full and updated list of the countries eligible for the H2A visa.
H-2A Visa Countries – Understanding the Restrictions
With few exceptions, only H-2A petitions filed by nationals of eligible countries may be approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The H-2A visa is restricted to those countries which the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated, with the concurrence of the Office of the Secretary of State, as eligible to participate in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program.
Every year, the Department of Homeland Security publishes the list of H-2A eligible countries using a Federal Register notice. The designation is valid for one year, counting from the publication date.
H-2A Visa Countries – Full Overview
Effective on November 10, 2021, foreign nationals from the following countries designated by the Department of Homeland Security are eligible to participate in the H-2A program:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- North Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malta
- Moldova
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Mozambique
- Nauru
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
While Moldova’s eligibility for the H-2A program remains effective until January 18, 2022, this Eastern European country will no longer be eligible to participate in the H-2A program.
H-2A Visa Countries – Taking a Closer Look
The addition of a country to the list of eligible H-2A countries depends on the Secretary of Homeland Security. Several factors may lead the Secretary to add a new country to the H-2A list, such as:
- Receiving a recommendation from the US Department of State
- Receiving a written request from an unlisted foreign government
- The interest of a US employer to hire nationals from an unlisted country, or another interested party or parties
To designate a new country to include on the H-2A list, the Secretary of Homeland Security will consider several factors, including:
- The country’s cooperation with issuing travel documents for citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country who are subject to a final order of removal
- The number of final and unexecuted orders of removal against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country
- The number of orders of removal executed against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country
- Other factors associated with US interests
A national from a country not listed as an H-2A eligible country may only be the beneficiary of an H-2A visa if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the approval of the applicant’s petition is in the best interest of the United States.
Do You Want to Apply for an H-2A Visa? – Immediately Contact Jurado & Associates, P.A.
A well-versed attorney from Jurado & Associates is willing to help you identify the best visa option for your case. Get in touch with us by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
