The US Embassy Kingston’s Consular Section has announced that its Jamaican Temporary Worker Security Programme will go into effect as of January 1, 2025. 

This programme will include important changes for applicants seeking an H2B (temporary non-agricultural workers), J1 (exchange visitors), or Q1 (international cultural exchange visitors) visa to the United States. Unregistered foreign labour recruiters have a history of charging illegal fees to their applicants and placing Jamaican workers at worksites in the United States that are different from those listed on their applications. This has resulted in possible labour trafficking and debt bondage and is contrary to the safety interests of Jamaican temporary workers and the United States.

Starting on January 1, all H2B, J1 and Q1 applicants must include complete information about their recruiting agency in their electronic DS-160 applications. Recruiter information should be entered as the answer to the “Did anyone assist you in preparing your application?” question in the DS-160. Any application for the above visa classes that does not provide the required information will be suspended until such time as an applicant provides the required information. In its sole discretion, the Embassy may make exceptions for those workers with sufficient recent temporary work travel to show they do not need an agent, or for those being petitioned directly by their U.S. employer without using a recruiting agent.

Once an application with complete recruiter information is received, the Embassy will check the named recruiter against the current list of recruiters registered with Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS)’https://mlss.gov.jm/departments/mployment-agency-unit) OR the US Department of Labour’s list (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/recruiter-list).  Any application showing a recruiter not on these lists will be rejected and the applicant will need to reapply with a listed recruiter.

Acting as a recruiter for labour to work overseas without an active MLSS registration is a violation of Jamaica’s Employment Agencies Registration Act. Additionally, US visa applicants are required to disclose on the electronic application form, and/or during an interview with the consular officer at the Embassy, the information for who assisted with completing the visa application.

The US government does not require that foreigners work through a third party to secure a job offer in the United States.  Rather, foreigners may work directly with U.S. employers.  For example, J-1 visa seekers should choose a designated sponsor organization listed at https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/sponsor-search/.