infoDepartment of Homeland Security's Deputy Secretary, Paul A. Schneider, signed and issued on Dec. 18, 2008 a notice designating a new list of countries that are eligible for H-2B program participation. According to this notice that was published on the Federal Register on Dec. 19, 2008 in Vol. 73, No. 245, only the nationals from the following 28 countries are eligible to participate in the H-2B visa program:

  1. Argentina;
  2. Australia;
  3. Belize;
  4. Brazil;
  5. Bulgaria;
  6. Canada;
  7. Chile;
  8. Costa Rica;
  9. Dominican Republic;
  10. El Salvador;
  11. Guatemala;
  12. Honduras;
  13. Indonesia;
  14. Israel;
  15. Jamaica;
  16. Japan;
  17. Mexico;
  18. Moldova;
  19. New Zealand;
  20. Peru;
  21. Philippines;
  22. Poland;
  23. Romania;
  24. South Africa;
  25. South Korea;
  26. Turkey;
  27. Ukraine;
  28. United Kingdom.

The notice also specifically confirmed that the new list of eligible countries will not affect the status of any aliens who might not be a national of those listed 28 countries but are currently holding H-2B nonimmigrant status.

If you wish to know more about this new policy or have a question about the H-2B program, you can email your questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will respond to your inquiry promptly and personally.

Thank you.