Biden Government Increases Temporary Work Visas; several are for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

The increase in H-2B permits is a way of addressing the causes that originate migration to the United States

Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty Images

The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) added 30, 04 non-agricultural temporary work visas, of which 6, 000 will be destined for countries of the Northern Triangle.

The H-2B visa is a non-immigrant permit for employment in the service area, mainly, and its granting is divided into two parts annually.

The government of the President Joe Biden seeks to address the causes of migration in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, for which the Executive Order was issued 14010, with the c The increase in temporary permits is justified.

“Creation of a comprehensive regional framework to address the causes of migration , manage migration in North and Central America and provide safe and orderly processing of asylum seekers in the border of the United States ”, explains the DHS about the order.

The holder of the DHS, Alejandro Mayorkas , highlighted that companies that request foreign employers must demonstrate that they do not affect US workers, nor in offering of positions or in their salaries, in addition to showing that their business could be affected in case of not obtaining more personnel.

He also highlighted the commitment to address the causes of migration from Central America to the United States.

“This supplemental increase also demonstrates DHS’s commitment to expanding legal avenues of opportunity in the United States. to the people of the Northern Triangle ”, said Mayorkas.

It is also required that the hiring will not affect “the wages and working conditions of American workers”, who have a similar position.

“The supplemental increase will require companies seeking H-2B workers to participate in additional recruiting efforts for US workers” , indicates the Government.

This type of permit allows a worker stay up to one year in the US, but it is possible to have a maximum extension of three years.

“In light of increasing labor demands, DHS is announcing a supplemental increase of 14, 000 Visas for the temporary non-agricultural worker program H- 2B ”, noted. “The additional visas will be available in the coming months through a temporary final rule in the Federal Register.”

This increase in visas is temporary , that means that the same measure will not be applied in the following years

Congress has established a limit of 66, 000 H-2B permits, divided into two parts annually. The second half of the fiscal year began on April 1 and ends on 22 September.

DHS decision was made based on section 105 of the Consolidated Allowances Act of 2015, which authorizes Secretary Mayorkas, after consulting with the Secretary of Labor, take action.

“(This) after determining that the needs of American businesses cannot be met by American workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform temporary non-agricultural labor ”, it was explained.