Summary
Starting October 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will change the rules for processing H-2A visas, which are used to hire temporary agricultural workers from other countries. The new rule allows U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to start processing these visa requests at the same time the Department of Labor reviews the job needs. This change aims to make it faster for U.S. employers to hire foreign agricultural workers.
Key Facts
- The new rule begins on October 2, 2025, affecting H-2A visas.
- H-2A visas let U.S. employers hire foreign workers for temporary and seasonal agricultural jobs.
- In fiscal year 2024, around 315,500 H-2A visas were issued.
- USCIS will begin processing visa petitions while the Department of Labor checks if the job impacts U.S. workers.
- Petitioners can file a new electronic form, I-129H2A, online.
- Paper submissions for this form will not be accepted.
- The rule change does not apply to H-2A petitions with named beneficiaries, which must still use paper forms.
- The Temporary Labor Certification (TLC) ensures U.S. workers are considered and that foreign hiring doesn’t affect U.S. wages or work conditions.
