Q: I am interested in working in the United States. Can you explain how the H-2 visa programme works?

A: Absolutely! H-2 visas are designed to allow foreign nationals to spend several weeks to several months in the United States (US) doing agricultural or non-agricultural, temporary work. The programme matches employers in the US with potential employees from around the world. H-2 visa applicants must take a few steps in order to qualify.

To begin the process, employers in the US file an I-129 petition with the US Department of Labour to indicate a need for employees and to receive temporary labour certifications. Once approved, these petitions are shared with Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and with the US Embassy in Kingston so that applicants can be matched into jobs.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security oversees employee placement in H-2 jobs, either directly or through licensed and regulated employment agencies. Employment agencies are prohibited from collecting a job placement fee or other compensation as a condition of employment, either before or after job placement.

Applicants should report any agent attempting to gather these fees to the Ministry of Labour. The only fees an applicant may be required to pay are the passport and visa issuance fees and the transportation costs to the place of employment.

Once an applicant has been matched with an employer through an approved petition and holds a valid passport, the applicant can complete a visa application and schedule a visa interview. Some applicants who have previously travelled as H-2 workers may be eligible for the Interview Waiver Program, allowing visa renewal without an in-person interview. When filling out your visa application, please answer questions completely and honestly to determine if you qualify for an interview waiver.

During the visa interview, applicants may be questioned about ties to Jamaica and qualifications for the intended job. Prior work experience or training may indicate that an applicant is a qualified worker. Discussing your new job requirements and demonstrating your credentials will help to facilitate the interview.

You will also have to prove that you are not an intending immigrant. Demonstrating your social, family, work, or educational links to Jamaica will show that you intend to return to Jamaica when your employment contract is finished. It is important to note that when employed in the United States you have rights and recourse to the US legal system. These rights include employment protections such as the right to the minimum wage which is guaranteed to US citizens. Guest workers are encouraged to seek help through labour rights groups and law enforcement if their rights are being violated. Applicants will learn more about their rights as guest workers during their visa interview.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on our website, jm.usembassy.gov.Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on our website, jm.usembassy.gov.

Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter

. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.