Now, Filipinos with this visa can no longer enter US

Citizens of Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic are also currently banned from entering the US under the said visa programs.

With the increase in Filipino citizens overstaying visas and concerns over human trafficking, the US banned entry of new workers with H2-A and H2-B.
According to GMA report, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not issue  temporary visas for foreign agricultural and non-agricultural workers between 19 January, 2019, and 18 January, 2020.

The DHS notice in the Federal Register read that in 2017 it is estimated that nearly 40 per cent of H-2B visa holders from the Philippines overstayed their period of authorised stay. The H-2A visas are temporary visas for foreign agricultural workers while H2-B visas are issued to foreign workers providing non-agricultural services in the US.
Further the DHS also cited the US Embassy in Manila recorded the highest issuance of T-derivative visas which are reserved for certain family members of principal T-1 non-immigrants or certain victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.
"DHS and Department of State are concerned about high volume of trafficking victims from the Philippines who were originally issued H-2B visas," the notice signed by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen further read, reported GMA.
Moreover, H-2A visa applications have also increased significantly among Filipino nationals from 2015 to 2018, the issuance of which was considered as potential means to perpetuate human trafficking from the Philippines.
Besides the Philippines, citizens of Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic are also currently banned from entering the US under the said visa programs. However, the DHS notice clarified that foreigners who are in the US currently with valid H-2A or H-2B non-immigrant visas will not be affected yet. 'Persons currently holding such status, however, will be affected by this notice should they seek an extension of stay in H-2 classification, or a change of status from one H-2 status to another', DHS notice added.
Further, nationals of the Philippines, Ethiopia and the Dominic Republic may still be beneficiaries of approved H-2A and H-2B petitions upon request of the petitioner  but will be vetted by authorities on a case-by-case basis, the notice added.
 

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