How to get a temporary job in the USA from abroad

Dreaming of trying your luck in the land of opportunity? If you didn’t know, get temporary job in the usa from abroad possible thanks to the H-2 program, which allows recruitment of foreigners participate in temporary work in various sectors.

Interested? Here we explain how to do it and which countries are eligible to participate.

In 2020, the Department of State (DOS) declared the H-2 program “essential to the economy and food security” of the United States and a “national security priority”. But what is it and how can it help you get a job? This is what you should know.

You may also be interested in our guide how to work from home efficiently and comfortablyor how much do the best big tech jobs earn.

What is an H-2 Temporary Work Visa

Under the H-2 program, the United States allows the employment of thousands of foreigners (professionals or no advanced degrees) to perform temporary jobs in the agricultural, livestock, or construction sectors, among other things, and whose vacancies have not been filled by local labor. .

The H-2 program is divided into two categories, which will depend on the position the company is required to fill. These are the types of temporary work visas:

• Temporary H-2A visas: for agricultural work.
• Temporary H-2B visas: for non-agricultural work.

Employers participating in the H-2 program must prove to the Department of Labor (DOL) that there is not enough local labor to do the job, that it is temporary employment, and that it does not affect the wages of American workers.

For aliens outside the United States, the employer must file Form I-29 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once your application is approved, you will be able to hire foreigners.

How to find an H-2 job

To avoid potential scams, one of the safest ways to find temporary work in the United States under the H-2 program is through the Department of Labor’s Seasonal Jobs website.

While it’s only available in English, the platform allows you to search for specific jobs or, if you prefer, all of the alternative jobs available in a particular city or state.

With the results, you can filter by distance, pay type (hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly), start date, and work type (farm or non-farm).

When you have found a job you are interested in, you must select it and a tab will appear with job description, salary level, location and contact information to apply.

If you are overseas, you must wait for your employer’s USCIS Form I-29 approval. In this case, you must apply for an H-2A or H-2B visa, as applicable, at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, and apply for entry into the United States at the customs and border control office at the border crossing. or port. .

How long are temporary H-2 visas valid?

H-2 program visas are issued for a maximum of one year, although they can be extended up to two times for one year each.

The application must be submitted before the visa expires, allowing the worker to remain in the United States during the period during which the renewal process is extended.

At the end of the third year of stay, foreigners must leave the United States for at least three months. After this period, they may re-enroll in the H-2 program.

The program allows a worker to enter the United States with a spouse and children under the age of 21 under an H-4 category, which prevents them from working.

Which countries are eligible

UCSIS annually updates the list of countries whose citizens can participate in the H2 visa program. This is the current list of countries in Latin America for 2022:

• Argentina
• barbados
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Savior
• Spain
• Grenade
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Panama
• Paraguay (H-2A program only)
• Peru
• Portugal
• Dominican Republic
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Uruguay

A complete list of countries is available on the UCSIS website for temporary H-2A and H-2B visas, along with other process details.