Policy Updates: H-2A guest worker visas stalled, causing mounting costs for growers

H-2A guest worker visas stalled, causing mounting costs for growers (Agri-Pulse): The U.S. State Department has placed administrative “holds” on worker visas, stalling their arrival and work start dates. These holds have left several hundred workers stuck in Mexico waiting for approvals from U.S. consular officials, forcing employers to incur substantial costs for housing, food, security, and other expenses while they wait; one contractor reported that he and two other employers have already spent a collective more than $4 million on these delays. Growers stressed that the “date of need” — which is the scheduled start of an H-2A worker’s employment — is critical, especially for harvests of perishable crops such as lettuce and fruit, and delays can result in lost labor when it’s needed most.

While agricultural employers welcomed recent interim H-2A regulatory changes designed to simplify classifications and reduce labor costs, they say the benefits are being undercut by what they view as unnecessary consular holds, especially since many of the workers on hold don’t have any violations. At a meeting of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, industry leaders urged federal agencies to fix the problem so growers can realize the savings intended by the rule changes. Officials from the State Department acknowledged the issue and said they would review it, noting they are often the last stop in a process that begins with certification from the Labor Department and petitions through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Meanwhile, some growers noted that even short delays can add hundreds of dollars per worker in costs and disrupt seasonal operations.