how many h2a visas are issued 2019

Full Answer

What is the H-2A visa program?

The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs.

Who is eligible for H-2B visa 2019?

Effective Jan. 19, 2019, nationals of the following countries are eligible to receive H-2A and H-2B visas: *Moldova, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic are eligible to participate in the H-2A program, but they are not eligible to participate in the H-2B program.

What is the new rule for H-2A nonimmigrants in the US?

On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (Department) announced and posted on the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s website a forthcoming final rule, Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in the United States (RIN 1205-AB89), pending publication in the Federal Register with a 30-day delayed effective date.

Which countries are no longer eligible for H-2B visa?

No longer designate Ethiopia and the Philippines as eligible countries because they no longer meet the regulatory standards for the H-2A and H-2B visa programs; and No longer designate the Dominican Republic as an eligible country for the H-2B visa program because it no longer meets the regulatory standards for that program.

How many H-2A visas are issued?

About 80 percent of H-2A jobs that were certified resulted in the issuance of H-2A visas, some 258,000 in FY21, including a peak 40,000 in March, 36,000 in April, and 34,000 in May.

How many H-2A visas issued 2020?

In March and April 2020 combined, a record 81,000 positions were certified, and 57,000 visas were issued during the corresponding months of April and May. This difference is larger than previous years and suggests that proportionally fewer certified positions were filled with new H-2A entries in 2020.

Where do most H-2A workers come from?

The majority of H-2A visa holders are from Mexico and work on farms in California.

How much does an H-2A visa cost?

Costs of the H-2A Visa ProgramTYPE OF EXPENSECOSTLabor CertificationFiling fee$460H-2A Visa ApplicationConsulate fee$190 per worker (worker must be reimbursed in first paycheck)10 more rows

How many H-2A visas are issued in 2021?

About 80 percent of the jobs that DOL certifies to be filled by H-2A workers result in the issuance of H-2A visas; some 258,000 H-2A visas were issued to foreigners in FY21, reflecting the fact that some workers fill several jobs and some employers do not follow through to recruit and employ H-2A workers.

How many h2b visas are issued 2021?

The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 23,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years.

How long does it take to get a H-2A visa?

To enable you to obtain an H2A visa, your employer must obtain a work permit. The work permit is taken out every year for that specific season, and usually takes three to four months before it has been finalized.

Do H-2A workers pay taxes?

Yes. Wages you earn as an H-2A worker are subject to U.S. federal income tax. TIP: You should receive a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from your employer for each year you work. You will need the W-2 to file with your U.S.

How long can H-2A workers stay?

3 yearsThe maximum period of stay in H-2A classification is 3 years. A person who has held H-2A nonimmigrant status for a total of 3 years must depart and remain outside the United States for an uninterrupted period of 3 months before seeking readmission as an H-2A nonimmigrant.

Can a H-2A worker get a green card?

Does the H-2A visa lead to a “green card” (permanent residence) or US citizenship? No. The H-2A is a nonimmigrant visa issued for a limited period of time. It does not put workers on a path to permanent residence in the US or American citizenship.

Do H-2A workers have Social Security numbers?

Yes. All H-2A workers are eligible for Social Security Numbers and should have one in order to file their taxes. To obtain a Social Security Number (SSN), the worker must complete Form SS-5 and take it to a Social Security Office with a current passport and current H-2A visa.

Are H-2A workers eligible for stimulus checks?

Only immigrants with Social Security numbers (SSN) living and working in the United States can receive a stimulus check. This includes resident aliens, green card holders, DACA-recipients, and workers with H-1B and H-2A visas.

What is an H-2A?

H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Employment of Foreign Workers. Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the lawful admission into the United States of temporary, nonimmigrant workers (H-2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. Before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ...

What is the H-2A rule?

Department of Labor (Department) announced and posted on the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s website a forthcoming final rule, Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in the United States (RIN 1205-AB89), pending publication in the Federal Register with a 30-day delayed effective date. On January 20, 2021, the Department withdrew this document from the Office of the Federal Register prior to its publication for the purpose of reviewing issues of law, fact, and policy raised by the rule, and therefore it will not take effect. The Department will notify the public of any further actions as appropriate once it completes its review.

How many H-2A visas were issued in 2020?

Employers must also show that the temporary foreign workers will not negatively affect the wage or work conditions of similar US-based workers. There were 213,394 H-2A visas issued in fiscal year 2020, up from 204,801 in fiscal year 2019. In 2007, there were 50,791 H-2A workers.

When will the H-2A visa be extended?

Parts of the temporary rule were extended through 2023. In March, the House approved the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which provides a path to citizenship to long-time farmworkers here on an H-2A visa. The Senate has not voted on the bill. Sources & Footnotes.

How many agricultural work visas will be issued in 2020?

According to State Department data, the agricultural work visa was one of two visa categories to increase in numbers. Nonimmigrant visas allowing temporary entry to the US for reasons including tourism, schools, and work dropped 54% from 8.7 million in 2019 to 4 million in 2020.

How many H-2A workers will be in Mexico in 2020?

Mexican workers are the majority of temporary agricultural workers. In 2020, 198,000 or 93% of H-2A workers came from Mexico. Three other countries sent more than 2,000 H-2A workers in 2020: South Africa (5,508 visas), Jamaica (4,659), Guatemala (2,123). Employer applications for H-2A visas increased in recent years, ...

Which states have the most jobs certified in 2020?

Employers in five states accounted for more than half of the positions certified by the Department of Labor in 2020: Florida, Georgia, Washington, California, and North Carolina.

Which state has the most H-2A positions?

Employers in five states accounted for more than half of the positions certified by the Department of Labor in 2020: Florida, Georgia, Washington, California, and North Carolina. Florida has the largest share of H-2A positions. Embed on your website.

Can an agricultural employer issue a temporary visa?

Under the H-2A program, agricultural employers may petition the government to issue temporary work visas provided they can prove that there aren’t enough US workers “who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work.”. Employers must also show that the temporary foreign workers will not negatively affect ...