page_title: H-2A visa
section_title: Statistics
hierarchical_section_title: H-2A visa / Statistics
caption_attribution_description: This image is excerpted from a U.S. GAO report: www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-706 H-2A VISA PROGRAM: Modernization and Improved Guidance Could Reduce Employer Application Burden
context_page_description: An H-2A visa allows a foreign national worker into the United States for temporary agricultural work. There are several requirements of the employer in regard to this visa. The H-2A temporary agricultural program establishes a means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring non-immigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. In 2015 there were approximately 140,000 total temporary agricultural workers under this visa program. Terms of work can be as short as a month or two or as long as 10 months in most cases, although there are some special procedures that allow workers to stay longer than 10 months. All of these workers are covered by U.S. wage laws, workers' compensation and other standards; additionally, temporary workers and their employers are subject to the employer and/or individual mandates under the Affordable Care Act. Because of concern that guest workers might be unfairly exploited the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division is especially vigilant in auditing and inspecting H-2A employers.
caption: Graphic from the Government Accountability Office showing the number of H-2A visas processed in Mexico according to location in the year 2011
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