H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Workers

Temporary agricultural workers from specified countries can enter the US through the H-2A program. The list of approved countries is updated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) each year.

Here are the requirements for H-2A:

• Temporary or seasonal agricultural job
• Petitioner must show that there are not enough able, willing, qualified U.S. workers available for the job being offered
• Demonstrate that wages and working conditions of U.S. workers in equivalent jobs will not be negatively affected if the H-2A worker visas are issued

H-2A: LIST OF ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES:

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Latvia
• Lichtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Madagascar
• Malta
• Moldova
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• The Netherlands
• Nicaragua
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• The Phillipines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Tuvalu
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Vanuatu

How to apply for H-2A

A U.S. employer, a U.S. agent or associations of U.S. agricultural producers that meet the regulatory requirements can petition on your behalf. The petitioner files Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker along with a valid temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor.