H-2A Ag Visa Solutions

The H-2A program allows farmers to obtain work visas for guest workers who come to the United States and return home when the work is completed.

WAFLA navigates a cumbersome and time-consuming application process for you by working with the six government agencies involved in the H-2A process. We tackle those requirements making labor stability your reality.

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How does the H-2A process work?

In order to use the program, you must have H-2A-compliant housing available. We can help.

We work with you to:

Accurately describe the jobs you have available.
Advertise those positions to local job seekers, per federal rules.
Request labor certifications for visas through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for any remaining unfilled positions.
Receive certifications from DOL.
Petition U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services and U.S. State Department for the requested visas.
Screen domestic worker applicants to reduce the administrative burden for employers.
Manage visa appointments with the U.S. Consulate for foreign workers.
Transport workers across the border to your farms.
Calculate inbound worker reimbursements.
Provide boots-on-the-ground Field Staff support to act as a liaison between workers and farmers, helping to ensure good labor relations and a successful season.
Calculate outbound reimbursement or transport workers back to their home countries at the end of the season.

H-2A visa program details

A program for nonimmigrant foreigners to perform temporary or seasonal work in agriculture.

Program description

Who may apply

Validity period

Temporary means agricultural employment performed for a limited time period of less than one year when the employer can show that the need for the alien workers is truly temporary (i.e., a one-time need). Seasonal means agriculture employment performed at certain seasons of the year. In most cases, employers may have H-2A workers for no more than 10 months out of the year under a seasonal need.

Required wages

The WAFLA difference

WAFLA is a nonprofit organization, and excess capital is invested for you. It’s your money, and we will reinvest it into the agriculture industry. We build housing for our members to use, and we generously support groups such as Farm Bureaus and commodity organizations. For-profit agencies put profits in their pockets.

We stand behind our recruiters.

Wafla is the only agency that takes full responsibility for our foreign recruiters. The H-2A regulations make the employer liable for foreign recruiters. The other agencies give you a list of recruiters they “recommend,” but they don’t stand behind the recruiters, and they are certainly not willing to accept joint liability if something goes wrong. WAFLA is. If you use a wafla recruiter and there is an issue, we are responsible. Period. WAFLA members can sleep easy knowing we got their back.

We are liable for workers from the time they leave home.

Recruiting, transporting, and reimbursing workers are time-consuming and subject you to risk. Wafla is liable and responsible for workers until they arrive at your front gate. Every other agency makes you liable for the workers from the time they leave home. Wafla arranges travel, figures the correct reimbursement, and delivers worker reimbursement checks to you. If you get a federal or state audit, we handle this part of it – one less headache, and one more benefit that no other H-2A agency offers.

Flexible plan options

WAFLA offers flexible options to meet your needs. We offer two plans – an all-inclusive plan that covers everything or a DIY option for seasoned employers who just need guidance from our team. It is nice to know you have the choice. And we offer cost transparency. Other agencies entice employers with low-cost quotes but don’t tell the employer the other fees involved – such as separate, hidden transportation fees or recruiter fees. All told, wafla usually charges you less than our competition and does more for it. We use your money to hire staff to support you – not employ more salespeople.

Boots-on-the-ground field support

WAFLA has an experienced bilingual field staff, many of whom are H-2A workers themselves. Their job is to conduct orientations, give trainings, and act as a liaison between workers and employers. When workers have never been to the United States before, they often have questions or need advice. Our field staff can help provide that guidance and work with employers and employees to address situations that may arise. We take this commitment seriously. WAFLA won’t file your account unless we can service it – in person!

Comprehensive housing solutions

For many employers, housing is the biggest challenge of the H-2A program. WAFLA is here to help. Building and managing housing is hard. WAFLA does both. Whether it is a walkthrough of existing housing, giving you options to build new housing, or helping you license and manage housing, WAFLA can help. We know the rules and costs because we do it ourselves, and we are happy to show you how to do it.