Following the intervention of a group of Florida congressional representatives, the U.S. government has approved eligibility for Haitian low-skilled workers to work in the U.S. under a federal guest worker program. Last week the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency announced that Haitians are eligible to apply for H-2A and H-2B visas.

The awarding of these visas to Haitian nationals is in response to a joint, bi-partisan legislative effort, led by Democratic Representative Frederica Wilson of Miami. She was joined on a letter to the administration by other members of the Florida Congressional delegation, including Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, and Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ted Deutch, Corrine Brown, David Rivera and Mario Diaz-Balart. Representative Wilson also held public events to promote awareness on the need for temporary visas for Haitian immigrant workers.

"This is great news for the people of Haiti who are rebuilding their lives while their homeland recovers from the devastating earthquake that struck their nation two years ago last week," said Representative Wilson in a statement. "By making Haiti one of the 58 countries eligible for the H-2A and H-2B visas, Haitians can now contribute to Haiti's stability through repatriated skills and capital. It's a win-win for thousands of Haitian families who remain displaced and the businesses here that employ them."

With the approval of the two new visa programs, U.S. companies can now offer temporary jobs in the U.S. to Haitians residing in Haiti. The H-2A visa can be offered to Haitians to work in agricultural jobs, and the H-2B can be offered for jobs in industries such as hotel construction and food services.

Haitian-American and North Miami resident Gabrielle Humphre said she is elated at the news, as the new visa program will provide opportunities for several of her relatives, left displaced and unemployed after the January 2010 earthquake, to apply for visas to earn an income in the U.S., and return home to support themselves and their families. "I am thankful to America and to God, for this opportunity to the Haitian people," she said.

The Haitian government, led by President Michel Martelly, also thanked the United States government for approving the worker visas.

According to the Center for Global Development, international migration has lifted more Haitians out of poverty than all the foreign aid, investment and trade preferences extended to Haiti combined over the past 30 years. This migration has drastically increased remittances to Haiti from the U.S., which are estimated to total more than $2 billion per year, representing nearly twice the amount the U.S. has pledged to Haiti in assistance.

No action has been announced however regarding the bi-partisan petition's additional request to accelerate the release of visa numbers for the 100,000 Haitians already approved for family-based immigration visas to the U.S. According to the National Visa Center, 15,584 of Haitians approved for family-based immigration visas are spouses and children of U.S. citizens, while 16,216 are adult children of permanent residents.