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US State Department acts on H-2A approval

The US State Department has announced it will continue to process H-2A cases as permitted by post resources and local government restrictions.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has authorized consular officers to expand H-2A visa applicants whose applications can be acted on without an in-person interview. Officers can now waive the visa requirement for first-time and returning H-2A applicants who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility.

The State Department’s expansion also increases the period in which returning workers may qualify for an interview waiver. Applicants whose previous visas expired in the last 4 years, don’t need to be interviewed in-person if they are applying for the same visa classification.

Ag groups called on Pompeo to ensure the food supply chain has the foreign workers it needs to keep up with demand after the department’s decision to suspend regular visa processing at US consulates in Mexico.