The US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that Filipinos are eligible in applying for H-2B visas again lifting of a ban set a year ago.

“For 2021, the acting secretary of homeland security and the secretary of state have agreed to… Add the Philippines to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2B program,” the website said in a statement.

The ban was imposed last year over under US President Donald Trump over concerns on severe overstaying and human trafficking.

“The H-2B program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs,” the website added.

The country is not cleared for H-2A visa, which is for agricultural work.

The US Department of Homeland Security said it has the authority to modify the list of countries who are eligible for the programs any time.

“ Examples of factors that could result in the exclusion of a country or the removal of a country from the list include fraud, abuse, denial rates, overstay rates, human trafficking concerns, and other forms of noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the H-2 visa programs by nationals of that country that are contrary to U.S. interest,” the department added. (TDT)