Informational content, based on official sources from the Department of Labor, USCIS and the Department of State. Rules and amounts change; always confirm with the official sources. H2A Works does not sell jobs or guarantee hiring or a visa.
What is the H-2A visa
The H-2A is the United States visa for temporary or seasonal agricultural work. It is requested by the employer, who demonstrates to the Department of Labor the temporary need for labor and the lack of available American workers. The foreign worker selected receives the visa to work on that offer, for a set period.
Examples of work: harvesting, cultivation, animal handling, nurseries, greenhouses and operating farm machinery. Unlike the H-2B, which covers non-agricultural sectors, the H-2A has no annual visa cap. See H-2A or H-2B.
How the process works, start to finish
- Certified employer. The employer obtains certification from the Department of Labor and publishes the job order.
- Application. You send a résumé and a message in English to the job's contact. See the application step by step.
- Selection. The decision to hire is the employer's.
- USCIS petition. The employer requests approval of the selected workers.
- Consular process. With the petition approved, you fill out the DS-160 and do the interview. See the visa step by step.
- Travel and work. You travel according to the formal instruction and fulfill the contract.
No one can guarantee hiring or visa approval. Eligible countries change; confirm the current situation with USCIS.
How to find and verify jobs
The official job orders are on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov. On H2A Works, you see these jobs organized by state, by occupation and by start month. Keep the case number to confirm the job on the official portal.
Read how to read a job listing and check the glossary of English terms.
Pay, costs and reimbursements
You do not pay to be hired. Employers and their agents may not charge workers recruitment or certification fees. The minimum wage is the highest of the AEWR, the applicable prevailing wage and the federal, state or local minimum wage, and the exact amount is in the job order.
The program rules provide for the employer to reimburse costs such as visa fees and the trip there, under defined conditions and deadlines. Details in pay and deductions and transport and reimbursements. To simulate your earnings, use the H-2A salary calculator.
Housing, transport and hours
In H-2A job orders, the employer must provide housing at no cost to workers who do not return home the same day, within the program rules. The employer must also generally guarantee work for at least three-fourths of the hours in the contract. See housing on the H-2A and types of work.
Duration, extensions and limits
Each contract has a start and end date, and total time in H-2A status is limited to three years, with a mandatory period outside the US afterward. Confirm the current rule with USCIS. Read duration and the 3-year limit and the harvest calendar.
Rights and how to avoid scams
H-2A workers are entitled to the required wage, pay statements, tools at no cost, workers' compensation coverage and protection against retaliation, among other things. See your rights and how to report abuse.
Be wary of charges for a job, promises of a guaranteed visa and payment by PIX to an individual. Read signs of a scam.
Next steps
- Explore H-2A jobs by state.
- Prepare an English résumé and an email to the employer.
- Get answers in the frequently asked questions center.
- Create your free account to apply from your Gmail.