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Electronic updates may help H-2A backlogs

Costanza-and-UptonThe American Farm Bureau Federation says farmers who have been waiting weeks for their H-2A guest workers to arrive may soon see some action.

Director of Congressional Relations Kristi Boswell tells Brownfield farmers in over 25 states have reported H-2A visa application delays this season.  “These are farmers who have crops ready to go and ready to harvest, are following all the rules and making sure they have legal workers, yet the government is impeding their ability to get these workers on time and get their crops out of the fields.”

She says after recent publicity of governmental backlogs, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this week they will start an E-approval system for H-2A petitions.  “The proof is in the pudding and until farmers are getting their workers on time, we won’t be completely appeased.”

Boswell says speeding up the process even a day or two can make a difference for farmers.  “DOL and USCIS really need to understand the impact that this is causing, and consumers need to understand the impacts that this is causing.”  She says, “We’ve had farms all across the country lose blueberries, lose different commodities, different fruits and vegetables that are going to impact what’s on the grocery store shelf.”

Boswell says while this news is positive, there are many portions of the H-2A program that are archaic and continue to challenge farmers’ access to a seasonal workforce.

AUDIO: Interview with Kristi Boswell

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