H-2A: summary, tools, and updates

Summary

Seasonal agricultural workers from designated countries.

Seasonal agricultural worker (H-2A) program: DOL and DHS updates.

What this topic is

Seasonal agricultural workers from designated countries.

Most work visas are employer-specific: you can only work for the petitioner listed on the approved petition. A new employer generally needs to file their own petition before you can start.

The feed below lists dated items we have tagged for this topic. Informational only, not legal advice: confirm requirements on official government sites before you rely on anything here.

Activity · daily, last 90 days

2 indexed updates

Mar 19, 2026 → Jun 16, 2026 · 90 days

Policy climate · last 90 days

Tone of coverage

100% neutral

Based on 2 indexed updates in the last 90 days

Last 90 days

What matters for H-2A

Highest-signal items for H-2A from roughly the last three months, when we have enough coverage (impact, open comments, fees, or processing shifts).

Published Fed. Register
Open for comments
Agency Information Collection Activities; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification
USCIS is updating its H-2A agricultural worker petition form and seeking public feedback on the revised information collection. The agency will submit the updated form to the Office of Management and Budget for final approval. This is a routine administrative renewal of the form…
Public comments accepted through .
Published Fed. Register
Fees
Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of H-2A and H-2B Foreign Workers in the United States: Annual Update to Allowable Monetary Charges for Agricultural Workers' Meals and for Travel Subsistence Reimbursement, Including Lodging
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced annual updates to allowable meal charges and travel subsistence reimbursement amounts for H-2A and H-2B temporary agricultural and nonagricultural workers. Employers must comply with the updated minimum and maximum reimbursement rates…

SentimentAll Positive Negative Neutral

Updates

Latest updates

All items tagged for H-2A, newest first. Open a row for the summary and source.

DATESUBTOPICTITLETONE

Neu

H-2A

Agency Information Collection Activities; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification

USCIS is updating its H-2A agricultural worker petition form and seeking public feedback on the revised information collection. The agency will submit the updated form to the Office of Management and Budget for final approval. This is a…

Open for comments

Act by Jun 26, 2026 (public comments)

Fed. Register

H-2AAgency Information Collection Activities; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification

Open for comments

Act by Jun 26, 2026 (public comments)

Fed. Register

Neu

H-2A

Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of H-2A and H-2B Foreign Workers in the United States: Annual Update to Allowable Monetary Charges for Agricultural Workers' Meals and for Travel Subsistence Reimbursement, Including Lodging

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced annual updates to allowable meal charges and travel subsistence reimbursement amounts for H-2A and H-2B temporary agricultural and nonagricultural workers. Employers must comply with the updated…

Fees

Fed. Register

H-2ALabor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of H-2A and H-2B Foreign Workers in the United States: Annual Update to Allowable Monetary Charges for Agricultural Workers' Meals and for Travel Subsistence Reimbursement, Including Lodging

Fees

Fed. Register

Neu

H-2A

Agency Information Collection Activities; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification

USCIS is requesting public comments on reinstatement of its H-2A petition form collection, which handles temporary agricultural worker visa applications. The form is being reactivated with changes after a previous approval lapsed.…

Open for comments

Fed. Register

H-2AAgency Information Collection Activities; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification

Open for comments

Fed. Register

Neu

Pos

H-2A

DHS Streamlines the Filing Process for Certain Agricultural Workers

DHS has finalized a rule, effective October 2, 2025, that simplifies how employers file petitions for temporary agricultural workers. This streamlining is intended to reduce paperwork and processing delays for H-2A visa applications. The…

Final rule

USCIS

H-2ADHS Streamlines the Filing Process for Certain Agricultural Workers

Final rule

USCIS

Pos

Neu

Work visas

H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security's final rules for the H-1B and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs take effect on Jan. 17, 2025, alongside a revised Form I-129. These rules modernize requirements for employers and workers in both programs.…

High impactFinal rule

USCIS

Work visasH-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025

High impactFinal rule

USCIS

Neu

H-2A

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

DHS announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible for the H-2A (agricultural) and H-2B (nonagricultural temporary worker) visa programs for the next 12 months. This annual eligibility designation affects which nationalities…

Update

USCIS

H-2ADHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

Update

USCIS

Neu

H-2A

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of State have released the lists of countries eligible for the H-2A (agricultural workers) and H-2B (temporary non-agricultural workers) visa programs for the upcoming year. These lists…

Update

USCIS Alerts

H-2ADHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

Update

USCIS Alerts

Neu

H-2A

Filing Location Change for H-2A, H-2B, CNMI-related Form I-129 Petitions, Form I-129CW Petitions, and CNMI-related Form I-539 Applications

Starting November 1, 2023, all H-2A and H-2B petitions, plus related CNMI forms, must be filed at the Texas Service Center instead of other locations. This filing location consolidation applies to Form I-129, Form I-129CW, and CNMI-related…

Processing

USCIS Alerts

H-2AFiling Location Change for H-2A, H-2B, CNMI-related Form I-129 Petitions, Form I-129CW Petitions, and CNMI-related Form I-539 Applications

Processing

USCIS Alerts

Neu

Tools

Official resources

Filing, fees, appointments, and case status. Government sites only; confirm details before you file.

USCIS processing times
Current wait times for I-129 petitions, extensions, and amendments.
USCIS fee schedule
Confirm filing fees before submitting any petition.
DOL iCERT portal (LCA)
File and track Labor Condition Applications for H-1B and H-1B1.
USCIS case status
Look up pending petitions using your receipt number.
Visa appointment wait times
State Department consular wait time estimates by post.

Guides and reference

Cross-check eligibility and forms on official sites before filing.

USCIS
Forms, fees, policy manual, and filing instructions.
Travel.State.gov: U.S. visas
Visa classes, reciprocity, and consular processing overview.
Federal Register (immigration)
Proposed and final agency rules.

Act now: public comments

What this topic is

What matters for H-2A

Latest updates