Nonimmigrant visa

Nonimmigrant visa

Free Trade Agreement Professionals

Temporary Agricultural Workers

Software developers, Financial analysts, Medical professionals, Engineers, Scientists, University professors, Physical therapists, Agronomists, Management consultants

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

• You must be a citizen of Chile or Singapore.

• You must hold a 4-year bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience (three years of professional experience for each missing year of formal education).

• The job must be a specialty occupation, requiring specialized knowledge typically obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher. This includes roles in fields like engineering, mathematics, and technology, where the complexity of the tasks necessitates advanced education.

• The employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the position — a rate set by the U.S. Department of Labor based on the occupation, work location, and level of experience. This wage is not flexible and must be met at a minimum.

• 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.

• Easy renewal process with the option to extend stay.

• Far less competitive than the H-1B visa, as it does not require an annual lottery.

• 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 employer sponsorship and a job offer in a specialty occupation.

• Annual renewal adds administrative overhead.

• 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.

Required

Required

18 months¹

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

Indefinitely

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

1-4 months

1-3 months¹

No

15 business days

No

No

¹Visa issued for 18-month terms with admission to the U.S. in 12-month periods, renewable in 12-month increments.

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