USCIS announced that the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, identified fifty-eight countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs for the coming year. Each country's designation is valid for one year from the date of publication.

Effective January 18, nationals of the following countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, 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 and Vanuatu.

The five countries added this year are: Haiti, Iceland, Montenegro, Spain, and Switzerland.

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