Mirziyoyev orders talks to simplify access to US visas

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, Furkat Siddikov, to hold negotiations aimed at including Uzbekistan in the list of countries eligible to supply seasonal workers to the United States. The instruction was given on January 15 during a video conference meeting chaired by the president on the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions abroad.

During the meeting, it was noted that the US government last year simplified the visa process for agricultural workers.

“Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United States has been tasked with holding negotiations to include Uzbekistan in the list of countries from which seasonal workers are recruited in the US,” Presidential Press Secretary Sherzod Asadov said.

The meeting also stressed that from now on, regional governors should establish direct cooperation with developed countries that accept foreign labor, working with specific regions and employers.

Overall, it was emphasized that every ambassador should be responsible not only for diplomacy but also for helping identify high-paying job opportunities abroad and ensuring that citizens are trained in relevant professions and foreign languages.

In this context, the importance of signing intergovernmental and interagency agreements on labor migration with Japan, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, and Oman was highlighted.

H-2A Visa Program

For reference, at the beginning of 2026, the US government announced a series of changes aimed at simplifying the H-2A visa system for agricultural workers and reducing costs for farmers.

The US Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security are working to allow simultaneous submission of applications, which is expected to shorten processing times and improve the efficiency of the system.

The Department of Labor has revised the minimum wage rates for H-2A workers for 2026. Under the new calculations, farmers may pay agricultural workers approximately $8–17 per hour instead of the previous range of $15–20.

By late 2025 and early 2026, US Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded the acceptance of applications online, reducing paperwork requirements.

At present, the US Congress is also discussing proposals to extend the H-2A visa program beyond seasonal work to year-round sectors, such as livestock farming.

The list of countries whose citizens are eligible to participate in the H-2A program is updated annually by the US Department of Homeland Security. According to the latest list for 2025, eligible countries include Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica, and others.

As of January 15, 2026, Uzbekistan is not included in the official list of countries whose citizens are eligible to work in US agriculture under the H-2A visa program.