The US Department of Security announced this Tuesday, April 20, that it will offer 22,000 new H-2B visas, aimed at foreigners who want to work temporarily in stationary non-agricultural sectors.
“In light of the labor lawsuits, DHS (Deparment of Homeland Security) is announcing a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas for the H-2B Seasonal Non-Agricultural Worker program.
The additional visas will be available in the coming months through a temporary final rule in the Federal Register, ”the institution reported.
Additionally, in order to comply with Executive Order 14010 from President Joe Biden, which seeks to address and manage migration in North and Central America, 6,000 visas will be reserved for citizens of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
The H-2B program allows US employers or employment agents who meet certain specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to temporarily fill non-agricultural jobs.
A U.S. employer, or an agent as described in the regulations, must fill out Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of the prospective worker.
This is great news, after the issuance of these work permits for foreigners was canceled with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2020, former President Donald Trump prohibited the issuance of new work visas, including the H-2B, but also the H-1B (for highly qualified foreign professionals), the L (for senior executives and international managers) and J1 (for students).
According to the Republican leader, the intention was to prevent new migrant labor from entering the national territory, limiting job opportunities for Americans.
The order was extended twice, but was revoked by Biden in February 2021, shortly after his arrival at the White House.
For the Biden administration, withdrawing these permits is counterproductive to the interests of the United States, not allowing families to reunite and not using emerging talent from other parts of the world, damages the industries of the North American nation.
Now, U.S. embassies will be able to issue an additional 22,000 H-2B visas.
Of these, 33,000 are granted to foreigners who start working in the first half of the fiscal year, that is, from October 1 to March 31, while the remaining 33,000 are offered to those who start working in the second half. (from April 1 to September 30).
The immigration document allows foreigners to work in stationary sectors not related to agriculture, such as hotels, restaurants, buildings, forests, nurseries or seafood restaurants, among others.
The maximum period of stay is three years – as long as the renovations are carried out.
When the employer receives the approval of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the foreign employee can go to the nearest consulate to apply for his H-2B visa.