Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
This represents an approval rate of 100%, which is higher than the nationwide average.
In 2024, the average approval rate for H-2A petitions across the U.S. stood at 98.8%, slightly higher than 2023's 98.4%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-2A visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs when enough domestic workers are unavailable. Employers must demonstrate a short-term need and that hiring foreign workers will not negatively affect U.S. workers' wages or working conditions. These jobs must first be offered to U.S. workers, and both domestic and H-2A workers must receive at least the highest of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) or other wage benchmarks.
The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry was the only industry in the North Kent News publication area to issue H-2A petitions during 2024.
The local employers with most temporary visa requests during 2024 included Agrico Labor, LLC, which filed 824 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Joe Rasch Orchards, Inc. with 116 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and John a ALT JR, which filed 50 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, North Kent News publication area saw a 207.7% increase in the number of seasonal agricultural visas during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
Due to manual data entry and the use of paper forms by applicants or petitioners, occasional discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details may be found in the H-2A Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the data used in this article. Despite these potential issues, USCIS works to ensure accuracy.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1,203 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agrico Labor, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 824 | 100% | 0% |
| Joe Rasch Orchards, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 116 | 100% | 0% |
| John a ALT JR | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 50 | 100% | 0% |
| Diaz Agricultural Services, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 39 | 100% | 0% |
| New Leaf Orchards, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 38 | 100% | 0% |
| Snappy Apple Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 37 | 100% | 0% |
| Thome Orchards, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Hart Farm, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 24 | 100% | 0% |
| Riveridge Land Company, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| PG Orchards, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| Dan Kober and Sons, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Twin Bee Orchards, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 4 | 100% | 0% |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The source data can be found here.
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