The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the US Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, have listed Jamaica among five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programmes for the coming year.

The US agencies said Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Haiti and Jamaica will participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs that allow US employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs.

The Dominican Republic is the other Caribbean country on the list.

The Czech Republic, Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal and Sweden have also been added to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the programs in the New Year.

USCIS said it only approves H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs.

USCIS said it may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries not on the list “if it is determined to be in the interest of the United States”.

Effective January 18, 2015, nationals of the 68 countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs.