H-2A
Services
At Fuerza, we provide American family farms with a willing, able, and qualified workforce to ensure U.S. food security while providing extraordinary wage benefits to an experienced talent pool.
"FY21, the Department of Labor (DOL) certified over 317,000 seasonal farm jobs to be filled by H-2A workers, up 15 percent from 275,000 in FY20, and more than three times the 100,000 jobs certified in FY13." --Wilson Center
After the initial consultation we determine the best course of action for your business and guide you through the process. Through due diligence we will determine if the H-2A is the right program for your farm.
Initial
CONSULTATION
Together, we will determine what the best course of action is for your business and help guide you through the following steps. Ensure housing is licensed and program requirements are met.
FILING
Complete job order and petitions. Submit required documents to various government agencies to prove there is a need for foreign workers and that domestic U.S. workers will not be adversely affected.
GET APPROVAL
Complete, gather and submit all petitions and documentation to the United States Citizenship & Immigration. Monitor process. After receiving approval, coordinate consular visa process.
Consular Visa Process
Coordinate with approved worker facilitator to assist with consulate process and logistics such as transportation, lodging, paperwork, fingerprints, interviewing workers
and transporting workers housing.
Workers Arrive
We work with you to receive workers and help with the onboarding process to educate workers and set expectations.
About H-2A
The H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program allows agricultural employers facing a shortage of domestic workers to bring non-immigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform seasonal or temporary work.
We help agriculture employers complete a complex, multi-stage application process that includes recruitment efforts of U.S. workers.
At Fuerza, we help you understand the essential program requirements, use our knowledge and experience to interact with regulatory and enforcement agencies to help you obtain the willing, able and qualified workforce you need to ensure your crops and harvest are timely.
We believe in a strong U.S. food security program and that starts by growing and harvesting for domestic and international consumption while treating America's guests with the upmost dignity to earn an extraordinary wage.
H-2A Services
The H-2A program requires working with multiple governmental agencies. Due to the political and bureaucratic nature of the program, each year brings new challenges and potential difficulties for employers. At Fuerza we help you navigate the process by:
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Conducting a mandatory intake consultation to learn about your business and unique talent shortage.
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If approved, submit a tailored application on your behalf to federal and state regulators.
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Continuous communication with government point of contacts to track and ensure approval of your application.
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Provide government compliance advisory services throughout to ensure you understand your role and what requirements are needed.
At Fuerza, we provide year-to-year labor stability services in the areas of foreign worker recruitment, transportation, lodging and consular interview processing. Our partners in Mexico facilitate the following services:
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Recruiting qualified workers
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Helping workers prepare visa applications
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Assisting workers through the consular interview process
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Arranging lodging
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Arranging transportation to employer-provided housing
Requirements
The H-2A program is governed by complex laws and regulations. Fuerza provides compliance guidance and advice on H-2A program requirements, including:
Recruiting
Employers must conduct local U.S. worker recruitment by contacting former employees, advertising the job opportunity internally at your place of business, accepting
applicants from seasonaljobs.dol.gov and accepting State Workforce Agency (SWA) referrals.
Housing
Employer must provide housing at no cost to the H-2A workers and those workers in corresponding employment who are not reasonably able to return to their residence within the same day. Fuerza can help you license the housing and comply with all
health and safety standard.
Transportation
Employers must pay or reimburse H-2A
workers’ transportation costs to the employment location and back to their place of origin. Our partners in Mexico help
arrange the most cost-effective transportation.
Wages
Employers must pay H-2A workers at a minimum the adverse effect wage rate (AWER) established by the government.
Fuerza provides you with up-to-date wage information.
