Employers Can Now File H-2A and H-2B Applications Online

New process will increase ease, accessibility, and transparency

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration now allows employees to electronically submit temporary labor certification applications under the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. The programs permit employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrants to perform agricultural (H-2A) or non-agricultural (H-2B) labor or services in the United States.

U.S. employers or their authorized representatives can submit applications through the DOL’s iCERT Visa Portal System.

This new electronic filing capacity will:

• Enhance the accessibility and quality of labor certification services
• Reduce the data collection and reporting burden on small employers, making it easier for them to collect the data necessary to meet program reporting requirements
• Facilitate more streamlined business processes
• Establish greater transparency in the DOL’s decisions

Key features include (1) online account management, which will enable employers to manage client membership lists; (2) the ability to prepare, submit, and track H-2A and H-2B applications; and (3) the option to reuse applications from previous seasons, thereby reducing data entry time.

Real-time electronic form validations will warn users of missing data entries, helping them avoid application processing delays, and email notifications will keep users informed throughout the application process.

The paperless submission process will also significantly reduce administrative time and costs by enabling users to upload supporting documents for more efficient storage and retrieval.

Those choosing not to use this new filing option must continue to file their H-2A and H-2B applications using the traditional paper method.

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