Employers in the agricultural sector in the US, including corporations, farming companies, and individual farmers, are able to hire foreign workers for agricultural positions thanks to the US H2A program. The application procedure for the US H2A Temporary Agricultural Work Visa is described in this guide. Do you operate as a farmer and need help with seasonal or temporary labor for things like planting, tending to, or harvesting crops? Are you an employee seeking employment in the US agricultural sector? The best option for you is the US H2A Visa. Because this visa is employer-sponsored, your company must submit a petition on your behalf; you are not able to apply for it directly.
Why pick an H2A visa? There is no annual limit on the number of H-2A visas granted, in contrast to other visas. Anyone whose visa application is granted can now work in the US. The US Department of Agriculture reports that 258,000 H-2A visas were granted in 2021, and that number rose to 298,000 in 2022, indicating the program’s increasing demand. The H2A Visa is available to a broad variety of candidates due to its low qualification requirements. Continue reading below for more information on the qualifications, advantages, and application process for the H2A Visa.
Requirements for Workers to Qualify for the H2A Visa:
- An employment offer from a US company is required.
- The position must involve seasonal or temporary labour in agriculture.
- You have to be a citizen of one of the qualified nations.
Conditions for Hiring a Foreign Employee by Employers:
- It is your responsibility as an employer to provide temporary or seasonal agricultural work.
- Prove that hiring a foreign worker is necessary because US workers are not available, willing, qualified, or able to fill those positions.
- In order to file a petition, you must have all required documentation.
Work Type
Work may be done in nurseries, ranges, farms, plantations, ranches, greenhouses, orchards, or other similar sites. Some of the jobs that may be performed include planting, cultivating, and harvesting.
What is the Petition?
The official procedure via which an employer/company asks USCIS to grant an H-2A visa to a foreign worker is called a petition.
In order to initiate the petition, the foreign worker’s employer must formally seek something from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
It is your responsibility as an employer to file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The petitioner, or employee or worker, may then apply for the visa at the U.S. Embassy if the petition is approved.
Visa with No Cap: Limitless Possibilities
H-2A visas are not subject to an annual numerical cap, in contrast to US H1B visas. This implies that the total number of H-2A visas granted annually has no set cap.
Expenses Paid by the US Employer
- Under the H-2A Visa Program, employers are responsible for all hiring and employment-related costs of foreign workers, including:
- Labour certification costs
- Petitions for non-immigrant workers: costs
- Application expenses for H-2A visas
- Transport expenses (from the nation of origin to the place of employment)
- Other costs
- US businesses have to pay back transportation costs if the worker initially covered them when the worker completes 50% of the contract. If the employer provides lodging, they are also required to arrange transportation from the dwelling to the place of employment.
- For a thorough explanation of the expenses that the employer will pay, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
Applying for the US H2A Temporary Agricultural Work Visa:
- The detailed application procedure is as follows:
- Find a Job: The first step for a potential employee should be to find employment with a US company.
- Petition Process Filed by Employer: Your employer will start the procedure by submitting a petition on your behalf.
- Visa Application: Submit your application for a visa as soon as the petition is accepted.
- Complete DS-160 Form: Enter accurate and comprehensive data when completing the DS-160 form online.
- Pay Visa Application Fee: Send in the necessary application for a visa.
- Arrange Embassy Interview: Make an appointment for an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate that is closest to you.
- Submit Required Documents: In accordance with the embassy’s specifications, gather and submit all required documentation.
- Attend H2A Visa Interview: Show up for your H2A visa interview on time.
Duration of the H2A Visa
The visa is usually only valid for a certain period of time, usually a year.
