The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday that Belize will once again be eligible for the H-2A and H-2B seasonal worker visa programs, which allow foreign workers to fill temporary agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in the U.S.
No other changes were made to the 87 countries eligible for the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program or the 88 countries eligible for the H-2B program for temporary non-agricultural workers. Belize’s inclusion will take effect on November 8, once the federal register notice is officially published.
Why Was Belize Previously Banned?
DHS previously banned Belize from the both visa programs in 2018 due to concerns over human trafficking. At the time, Belize had been placed on the U.S. State Department’s “Tier 3” list, which identifies countries that do not meet minimum standards for preventing human trafficking. As a result, Belizean workers were no longer allowed to participate in these seasonal work programs.
However, DHS said in the notice that Belize had made significant improvements in addressing these issues. The country was moved to a “Tier 2” status in the most recent Trafficking in Persons report, meaning it is now actively working to meet U.S. anti-trafficking standards.
Belize has also kept its visa overstay rates low — below 5% in 2023 — putting it in line with other countries that are already part of the H-2A and H-2B programs.
What Are the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs?
The H-2A and H-2B visa programs are U.S. nonimmigrant worker visa programs that allow foreign nationals to come to the U.S. for temporary or seasonal work.
- H-2A Visa: This program is specifically for temporary agricultural workers. U.S. employers who cannot find enough domestic workers to fill seasonal agricultural jobs can apply to bring foreign workers to the U.S. for a limited period, typically for planting or harvesting crops. The H-2A visa ensures that foreign agricultural workers are treated fairly and compensated appropriately while they work in the U.S.
- H-2B Visa: The H-2B program allows employers to hire temporary non-agricultural workers for seasonal jobs in industries such as construction, hospitality, landscaping, and more. Like the H-2A program, the H-2B program helps fill jobs in sectors where there is a shortage of U.S. workers. The H-2B visa is also temporary and typically issued for jobs that last up to one year, with the possibility of extending the stay.
Both programs aim to address labor shortages in industries that rely heavily on seasonal workers. They also ensure that foreign workers are provided with protections against exploitation and that U.S. employers follow specific regulations to recruit and treat workers fairly.
Workers on both visas are required to return to their home countries after completing their work in the U.S., and employers must demonstrate that hiring foreign workers will not harm the wages or job opportunities of U.S. workers.