How we verify jobs

A job can get one of two badges, or none:

A job without a badge is not necessarily a scam: it may not have been checked yet, or it may have a real problem. The job page shows the reason.

Each layer uses a different public source. Nothing is made up or estimated: when a source does not respond, the layer is marked "not checked" and does not remove the badge.

1. 1. Case record at the DOL

   We look up the case number in the FLAG case status search, the official DOL system. We check the status, the employer name and the visa type.

   Effect: a denied or withdrawn request, or a record with a different employer or visa, removes the badge. A request in progress gets at most ✓.

2. 2. Debarred employers list

   We compare the employer with the OFLC debarment list, which lists employers, labor contractors and agents barred from the program.

   Effect: an employer on the list gets no badge.

3. 3. Working contact email

   We check the public DNS records of the job's email domain to see whether it is set up to receive messages. Personal email (Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud...) is accepted, since it is common on small farms.

   Effect: a domain that does not exist or has no mail server removes the badge, because applications would bounce.

4. 4. Employer history

   We count the employer's previous certifications in the OFLC public disclosure files (H-2A and H-2B, last 2 fiscal years).

   Effect: an employer with a previous certification can get ✓✓. A new employer does not lose ✓.

5. 5. Two official sources agree

   We compare the live listing on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov with the DOL's official daily file: employer, dates, number of positions and wage.

   Effect: a different employer between sources removes the badge. Different dates, positions or wage become a warning, since the employer may have amended the request.

A job gets no badge when the verifier finds at least one of these problems:

• The DOL lists the request as denied or withdrawn.
• The official case record shows a different employer or visa type.
• The employer is on the debarred employers list.
• The contact email domain does not exist or does not receive messages.
• The official DOL file shows a different employer for the same job.

The verifier runs once a day, after jobs are updated. Employer history is recalculated when the DOL publishes new disclosure files (every quarter).

The badge only shows while the latest check is at most 4 days old. If a source stays down longer, the badge disappears until the next successful check.

• It does not guarantee hiring, a visa or a reply from the employer.
• It does not check offers you received through WhatsApp, social media or recruiters: only the job published at the DOL. For that, use the job verifier.
• It does not replace reading the official job order before sending documents or accepting conditions.
• It is not a U.S. government certification. H2A Works is not affiliated with the DOL.

Before launching the badge, we tested other layers on real jobs and dropped the ones that raised false alarms:

• H-2A minimum wage (AEWR) by state: the public table was out of date and flagged jobs that were already certified.
• Worksite address: many farms have rural addresses that public maps cannot find.
• Email domain age: most employers use personal email, with no domain of their own to check.

All sources are public. You can look up the case number in FLAG, the debarment list and the listing on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, or use our verifier, which does the lookup for you.