Green card

Nonimmigrant visa

Immigrant Investor Program

Temporary Agricultural Workers

Entrepreneurs, Business owners, Investors

Agricultural workers, Seasonal farm workers, Horticultural employees, Forestry workers, Dairy farm workers, Orchard workers

• Invest personal funds of $800,000 in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA), such as rural or high-unemployment areas and certain infrastructure projects, or $1,050,000 in non-TEA areas.

• Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.

• Provide detailed documentation verifying the lawful source and transfer path of the investment funds.

• Maintain the investment for a minimum of two years.

• The employment must be of a temporary or seasonal nature.

• Employers must prove there are no available U.S. workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform the temporary work.

• Employers must certify that hiring H-2A workers will not adversely impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

• The only visa category that provides immigration status based on passive investment.

• Does not require employer sponsorship, offering significant flexibility.

• No specific educational or professional qualifications are required.

• Allows for investment directly into new or existing businesses or through regional centers that pool funds for larger projects.

• The only employment-based category allowing concurrent Green Card application filing for all nationalities.

• Provides a legal pathway for foreign agricultural workers to work in the U.S.

• Addresses critical labor shortages in the agricultural sector.

• Allows for seasonal employment flexibility, matching crop harvest cycles.

• Requires a substantial financial investment.

• The investment must be at risk, and job creation requirements must be met.

• Initially issued a two-year conditional Green Card, requiring a subsequent application to demonstrate continued compliance with the program requirements.

• Limited exclusively to agricultural work and subject to seasonal demands.

• No pathway to permanent residency or long-term employment.

• Spouses and dependents do not receive work authorization.

• Employers must undergo a rigorous certification process.

• Requires employer sponsorship and a specific job offer.

Not required

Required

Permanent residency

Duration of labor certification, up to 1 year, renewable twice in 1-year increments for a total of 3 years.

Every 10 years

Twice in 1-year increments for a total of 3 years.

6-24 months¹

1-3 months¹

No

15 business days

Yes

No

¹Timeframe to obtain conditional residence, with a similar timeframe for achieving permanent residence.

¹Varies based on processing center workload and employer need; fee applicability uncertain.