The H-2A visa, often called the “Green Card for Harvest,” might sound complex, but its core is simple: a legal avenue for U.S. farms to bring in foreign workers for temporary, seasonal agricultural jobs. Think of it as a bridge spanning labor needs and worker aspirations, ensuring vibrant fields meet skilled hands.
An H-2A visa grants legal temporary residence to foreign nationals to perform specific agricultural tasks during peak seasons. Think planting, harvesting, or tending livestock—activities crucial for our vibrant food system.
This program isn't a quick fix; it's a strategic solution. When the domestic labor pool falls short, the H-2A visa steps in, ensuring farms aren't left scrambling during critical periods. Think of it as a safety net, guaranteeing farms stay productive and crops reach their full potential.
The H-2A program is a significant force fueling America's agricultural engine. In 2022 alone, it facilitated almost 300,000 H-2A visa workers contributing to diverse crops across the nation. Since the program’s origin in 1986, it has served as a nationwide network, connecting farms in need with willing hands, from apples in Washington to strawberries in Florida.
Navigating the H-2A application process can feel like trekking through a bureaucratic jungle. But fear not, agricultural champions! Harvust, your one-stop farm labor management solution, is here to guide you through every step with seamless integration and expert support.
Before venturing into the application jungle, ask yourself:
Harvust and wafla can help you analyze your labor needs and ensure compliance with program guidelines.
This crucial document, the H-2A Temporary Labor Certification Application, tells the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) why you need H-2A workers. Harvust and wafla will use the results from the previous analysisand automatically file this with the government on your behlf.
Once submitted, the ETA-9142A undergoes a rigorous review by the SWA. Harvust keeps you updated on every step with a customized dashboard, including potential requests for additional information.
If approved by the SWA, your application moves to the DOL for final review. Meanwhile, Harvust and wafla will post a job order, on your behalf, with the SWA to recruit U.S. workers. We will help you craft a compliant job posting so you can fulfill your domestic recruitment obligations.
Once DOL approval is granted, it's time to file Form I-129, the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. Wafla and Harvust will file and monitor this for you. You'll receive updates on your Harvust dashboard.
H-2A workers require safe and proper housing. Wafla will help you make sure your housing is up to the Temporary Labor Certification for H-2A Workers housing standards, while Harvust provides you with a housing management tool to assign and track each emloyee's housing.
With all approvals and arrangements in place, welcome your H-2A workers with open arms! Harvust helps you manage onboarding, training, and communication, ensuring a smooth transition and a positive experience for everyone.
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Navigating the H-2A program as an employer involves a symphony of responsibilities. From intricate regulations to labor contractor guidelines, ensuring compliance can feel like juggling a complex array of tasks.
H-2A compliance rests on a foundation of federal and state regulations. Familiarize yourself with these governing bodies:
Here's a handy tip: Stay updated on regulatory changes! Subscribe to DOL and USCIS newsletters to ensure your practices remain compliant.
While navigating the H-2A process solo is possible, many employers choose to partner with:
Choosing the right partner is crucial. Conduct thorough research, check licenses and references, and ensure their practices align with your values and compliance goals.
Hiring H-2A workers involves ethical and legal considerations. Ensure you:
H-2A compliance extends beyond the initial hiring process. Remember:
Compliance isn't just about checking boxes; it's about creating a positive and responsible work environment. Foster open communication with your H-2A workers, address concerns promptly, and ensure they feel valued and respected.
Remember, Harvust is here to partner with you every step of the way. Our all-in-one platform streamlines compliance tasks, offers expert guidance, and empowers you to manage your H-2A workforce with confidence.
By navigating these responsibilities with dedication and a proactive approach, you can cultivate a thriving farm that benefits both your business and your H-2A workers. Let's work together to make H-2A a program that fuels success and fosters ethical, transparent agricultural practices.
Additional Resources:
The H-2A visa program isn't just about filling fields; it's about ensuring hardworking individuals have the rights and protections they deserve. As agricultural champions, we must cultivate a harvest rooted in both productivity and ethical treatment. This section delves into the key rights and protections for H-2A workers, and how Harvust empowers you to prioritize their well-being.
H-2A workers, just like their domestic counterparts, are entitled to fundamental rights under federal law. These include:
Going beyond the bare minimum, Harvust guides you toward ethical recruitment practices that ensure transparency and respect for H-2A workers. We support you in:
Harvust understands the complexity of navigating US tax systems for H-2A workers. We offer resources and guidance to ensure they:
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Harvust recognizes that safety is paramount. We support you in providing comprehensive safety training for H-2A workers, covering:
By prioritizing worker rights, safety, and ethical recruitment, you cultivate a thriving farm environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Harvust stands beside you every step of the way, empowering you to make the H-2A program a beacon of responsible and ethical agricultural practices. Remember: Cultivating a successful harvest begins with cultivating a positive and respectful work environment for all.
Ensuring a successful H-2A program goes beyond securing visas and filling fields. It's about building a well-managed ecosystem where worker needs are met, compliance is assured, and productivity thrives. This section digs into crucial aspects of housing, recruitment, and management, highlighting how Harvust's new features empower you to navigate them with ease and confidence.
Providing safe and sanitary housing is a cornerstone of the H-2A program. Harvust and wafla guides you through the complexities of these requirements, including:
We're excited to announce our new housing management feature! This intuitive tool simplifies housing compliance by:
Finding the right H-2A workers is crucial for your farm's success. Harvust and wafla provides invaluable support throughout the recruitment process by assisting with the following:
H-2A visas are temporary, and managing extensions can be complex. Harvust and wafla helps you navigate the process with:
Our comprehensive platform integrates contract status tracking, employee onboarding, training, housing management, and communication tools seamlessly, giving you complete control over your H-2A program. With Harvust, you can:
Cultivating success extends beyond the fields. By prioritizing safe housing, ethical recruitment, and efficient management, you create a thriving environment where both your farm and your H-2A workers can prosper. Partner with Harvust and wafla and let our innovative tools empower you to cultivate harmony within your H-2A program. Remember, we're constantly working to improve Harvust and add new features that meet your needs. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Together, let's cultivate a brighter future for agriculture and the dedicated individuals who keep it flourishing.
Tired of the paper mountain associated with H-2A compliance? Harvust is your digital oasis, transforming complex HR tasks into streamlined workflows. Imagine saying goodbye to endless paperwork and hello to:
Streamline recruitment with online applications, digital contracts, and secure document storage. No more filing cabinets overflowing with forms!
Stay ahead of regulations with automatic reminders for visa extensions, housing inspections, and payroll deadlines. Let Harvust an wafla handle the administrative heavy lifting.
Deliver engaging safety training modules electronically, ensuring your workers are prepared and protected. Reduce paper handouts and boost training accessibility.
With Harvust, managing H-2A workers isn't just efficient, it's empowering. You can focus on nurturing your crops and fostering a positive work environment, knowing your HR ducks are all in a row. Check out the video below to learn more.
Understanding the H-2A program's terminology is crucial for navigating its complexities with confidence. Let's demystify some key terms for you.
Allows foreign nationals to fill temporary agricultural jobs in the US. Think of it as a passport to opportunity for both farms and workers.
Permits temporary non-agricultural seasonal workers in skilled or unskilled jobs. Imagine it as a bridge for specific seasonal needs beyond agriculture.
The official application form for the H-2A program, filed with the US Department of Labor (DOL). It's like your agricultural job posting for foreign workers.
Electronic version of the ETA-9142A form, offering a paperless application option. Think of it as a digital upgrade for streamlined processing.
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for H-2A worker visas. It's like a formal invitation for your chosen candidates.
Arrival/Departure Record documenting a foreign national's stay in the US. Consider it their temporary visa stamp.
Employment Eligibility Verification form ensuring hired workers are authorized to work in the US. It's like a legal handshake confirming their work eligibility.
Temporary Labor Certification for H-2A Workers form, outlining housing standards and living conditions for H-2A workers. Think of it as a blueprint for their safe and comfortable stay.
Government approval needed to employ H-2A workers, ensuring the program fills genuine labor needs. It's like a green light for your H-2A program.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services, handles visa applications and worker entry approvals. Imagine them as the gatekeepers for foreign worker entry.
US Department of Labor, sets wage rates, housing standards, and worker protections for the H-2A program. They're like the rulebook for ethical and responsible H-2A practices.
State Workforce Agencies, process initial H-2A applications and conduct recruitment efforts within their state. Think of them as your local H-2A program guides.
Temporary agricultural jobs lasting up to ten months during peak harvest seasons. Imagine it as a short-term but vital boost for your farm's productivity.
Farm owner or manager responsible for sponsoring H-2A workers and ensuring their well-being and compliance with program regulations. They're the captains of the H-2A ship.
Licensed entity that assists employers with the entire H-2A process, from recruitment and transportation to housing and payroll. Think of them as your experienced advisors in navigating the H-2A maze.
With this glossary in hand, you can navigate the H-2A program with confidence, ensuring a smooth and successful journey for both your farm and your H-2A workers. Remember, Harvust is here to be your guide and partner every step of the way, simplifying complex processes and empowering you to cultivate a thriving harvest. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions about these terms or any aspect of the H-2A program. We're happy to help!
These visas both allow temporary worker entry, but their focus differs:
The H-2A program aims to fill temporary gaps when qualified domestic workers aren't readily available. It shouldn't adversely impact local workers seeking permanent agricultural jobs. However, careful recruitment efforts are crucial to ensure fairness and compliance.
As an employer, you're responsible for providing safe and reliable transportation for H-2A workers between their housing and the work site. This includes:
Wages for H-2A workers are set at the prevailing wage rate for the specific job and location, determined by the US Department of Labor.
Eligible activities must be temporary, seasonal, and involve:
H-2A employers are required to pay the highest of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), prevailing wage, federal or state minimum wage, or collectively bargained wage.
H-2A employers must actively attempt to contact former U.S. workers who were employed within the last year.
H-2A employers must engage in recruitment efforts, including advertising job opportunities and offering positions to eligible U.S. workers.
H-2A employers must conduct interviews for all eligible and available U.S. applicants who express interest in the job.
An H-2A employer can be barred if they lay off U.S. workers 120 days before the H-2A workers' first date of need.
Additional recruitment may be required if U.S. workers are not referred or if qualified U.S. workers express interest but are not hired.
H-2A employers must keep detailed records of recruitment efforts, including the number of U.S. workers hired and their reasons for separation.
Records related to the H-2A program must be retained for at least three years.
Pay stubs must include itemized details such as hours worked, piece rates, and deductions.
H-2A employers must provide or pay for meals when workers are not able to prepare them.
The three-fourths guarantee ensures that H-2A workers receive at least 75% of the total work hours specified in the contract.
A job order can be terminated early in cases of unforeseen events or circumstances beyond the employer's control.
H-2A housing must meet federal and state safety and health standards.
Housing must address basic health and safety needs, including sanitation, ventilation, and adequate space.
Yes, productivity standards can be established, but they must be reasonable and clearly communicated to workers.
Permitted deductions include those required by law or authorized by the worker, such as taxes and voluntary deductions.
H-2A employers must provide workers with a written statement of their rights under the program.
Employers must retain records related to wages, hours, and conditions and provide them upon the government's request.
Retaliation against workers for asserting their rights under the H-2A program is strictly prohibited, ensuring a fair and secure working environment.
Traditionally, implementing a new software system can be a long, and arduous process. Harvust is different, we create a personalized setup plan for each new grower so you can start seeing value as soon as possible. Below is an overview of what a typical Harvust deployment looks like.
Our HR specialist, Becca, will send you an email asking in-the-weeds questions about your farm so we can set up your new account just right. She'll also have you send us your hiring packet and any other onboarding documents. Finally you'll schedule a video call to go over any integration needs.
You'll meet with our co-owner, James, to go over how Harvust will work with your existing HR systems like payroll, and timetracking. Together we'll decide on the needed exports and imports for your various vendors. While we have most ag software integrations already working, in our experience you'll need small customizations, those will be identified in this meeting too. Finally, we'll map out the workflow you and your staff will practice to use these integrations effectively. This will take a couple iterations to get right, but we'll be there every step of the way!
While we were planning your integrations, Becca will have digitized your onboarding documents so they work on Harvust. She will send you a video going over each document; if anything looks off you can get back to her and she'll make the corrections.
While Harvust is simple and easy to use, that doesn't mean we'll leave you to fend for yourself. You will get a one-on-one training and coaching session with Becca that will make you the Harvust expert for your company. And of course, if you or your staff ever need more help, we're happy to provide follow-ups.
You're trained, your employees have been loaded into your account, and your documents are ready to go. Most new growers immediately start getting value by turning on our automations, testing out with their team, and gradually rolling out Harvust to the entire farm.
While we can't promise to build everything you ask for, we do promise to listen to any feedback and feature requests you might have. The more growers who ask for something the more likely it is we'll build it, we don't just listen to our biggest customers.
Yes, there always are! While we don't share our roadmap publicly, if you're looking for a feature that has to do with ag labor compliance, there's a good chance it is already in the plan. If there is a specific capability you are looking for get in touch with us.
No, and you can see our current pricing here. We have found usage-based billing, invoiced at the end of the billing period, to be the fairest way to charge for our services. We don't do contracts, and any pricing changes will be communicated far in advance. Additionally, we only raise prices if we believe we have also raised the value we are bringing to you via new features and capabilities. The only time we've changed our pricing was in 2023. Not a single customer stopped using Harvust because of the price change. We try to be fair.
