While the H2A visa is for foreign workers in the Agriculture industry, the H2B visa on the other hand, is a temporary work visa for foreign workers who have a job offer for seasonal, non-agricultural work in the U.S. The H2B visa program is open to nationals of countries designated by the United States Secretary of Homeland Security and is capped at 66, 000 visas per year (from October 1 – September 30). Those with a temporary job offer in an agricultural industry may be eligible for an H2A visa which is exempt from this cap.
H2B Visa Entitlements
Holders of the H2B visa have permission by the US government to live and work in the US temporarily. The H2B visa is usually granted for a one (1) year after which it expires. However an extension could be sought. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply for the applicable derivative visa (H4 visa) to join their spouse or parent in the US. Accompanying spouses and children are entitle to study in the United States but are not entitled to undertake any employment without obtaining an appropriate work visa.
H2B Visa Requirements
In order to qualify for the H2B Visa category, the applicant must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Barbados
- Belize
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Samoa
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Tonga
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
