H-2A HQ | Episode 1: H-2A SERVICES FOR FARMERS, BY FARMERS

H-2A SERVICES FOR FARMERS, BY FARMERS

By Alex Cracchiolo

Finding trustworthy information about the H-2A program is hit-or-miss at best. You would think a quick Google would give you all the answers you could ever want. And yet, surprisingly, even in the heart of the Information Age, there really isn’t a one-stop-shop for learning about the H-2A Program and how to comply with the regulations.

The purpose of this blog is to solve that problem and make it easier than ever to quickly find answers to the most common questions in the industry.

Before we break into more practical topics, I wanted to start off with a quick introduction to Agri Placements International and the H-2A Program. That way, first-time readers can get context–specifically, who we are, what we do, and why we do what we do.

Agri Placements International

For over two decades, Agri Placements International has been owned and operated by farmers, for farmers. We understand first-hand the struggles faced by agricultural businesses of all sizes: the long hours, the unpredictable weather, the government overregulation, the tug-of-war between input costs and commodity prices, and, of course, the constant struggle to find reliable team members to help get everything planted, cultivated, and harvested on time. 

Our background in farming not only gives us insight into the needs of farmers, but also the drive to serve the agricultural community. The primary way we do this is by helping farmers who cannot find local employees access the global workforce to hire reliable, legal, and experienced workers through the H-2A Visa Program.

The H-2A Program can be tricky to navigate and use correctly, but we handle the difficult parts so you can get the help you need without the headache. 

  • We handle the paperwork and communication with the various government agencies, ensuring the certification and approval processes are as quick and smooth as possible. 

  • We connect employers with qualified recruiters who take compliance seriously, meaning you won’t have to worry about your recruiter flaking out on you or illegally charging workers fees–a violation for which employers can be held liable. 

  • We also provide resources to help employers comply with the regulations and, when necessary, assist employers with audits and other challenges.

We do all of this while leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline the process and keep our costs as low as possible. This enables us to deliver premium, personalized services at a competitive, transparent price. The end result is easy access to the H-2A Program without the headache and without breaking the bank.

An Overview of the H-2A Program

The H-2A Visa Program allows U.S. farmers who cannot find local help to hire seasonal agricultural workers from other countries, like Mexico, South Africa, and Jamaica. It’s a fantastic program that thousands of employers across the country rely on each year to fill hundreds of thousands of seasonal jobs.

Prior to using the program, employers must complete a certification process overseen by the Department of Labor and request visa permits from the USCIS. The entire process generally takes about 90 days to complete, but we recommend that employers contact us and start getting everything prepared 100 days in advance, since government processing times can fluctuate throughout the year.

H-2A employers must also follow H-2A specific requirements as well as other applicable laws. For instance, H-2A employers are required to provide workers with housing and work required gear at no cost to them. Employers are also required to provide workers’ compensation and pay workers at least a set minimum wage, which differs by state.

These requirements range from fairly straightforward to complex and unintuitive. As such, we don’t have the space in this introduction to include them all. However, these regulations, along with how to comply with them and get the most out of the H-2A program, will be the focus of this blog. Be sure to check back here regularly for all the latest best practices from industry experts. If you’d like to be notified of new posts as they are released and receive crucial H-2A regulation updates, be sure to sign up for our free newsletter! And if you have questions you’d like us to cover here, feel free to email them to office@agri-placements.com with the subject line: Question for Blog.

Next Time

One of the first questions we usually hear from farmers is: 'What exactly does the H-2A Program require, and is it worth the effort?' In our next post, we'll break down the key requirements in plain English—so you can decide if the program is a good fit for your business. 

I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Alex Cracchiolo
Technology & Writing

Alex Cracchiolo