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A bill to streamline the application process for H-2A employers and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1578| Senate 
| Updated: 7/19/2017
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Jon Tester (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a process for filing petitions for nonimmigrant temporary agricultural workers (H-2A visa) that ensures that: (1) petitions may be filed through Labor's website or in a paper format, and (2) any technical deficiency in the petition will be indicated to the petitioner before submission. An employer that has received a request for evidence from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) may request that such evidence request be delivered in an online format. CIS, within 10 days of the employer's submission of evidence, shall: (1) provide an online response indicating whether the evidence is sufficient; and (2) if the evidence is insufficient, provide the employer with an opportunity to address the deficiencies. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to include year-round equine or livestock workers (including dairy or poultry workers) within the H-2A visa category. The requirement that apple pressing be performed on a farm in order to qualify for H-2A status is eliminated. The bill permits multiple employers to submit a joint petition to import nonimmigrant H-2A visa temporary agricultural workers. Upon approval of such petition, each joint employer shall be subject to the Act's H-2A provisions with respect to each alien listed in the petition. An employer seeking to rehire H-2A workers who previously worked for the employer as H-2A workers at any time may submit a simplified petition, to be developed by CIS, which shall include a certification that the employer complies with all applicable employment requirements. Such petitions shall be approved upon completion of applicable security screenings. An employer seeking to hire H-2A workers during different time periods in a given fiscal year may submit a single petition to CIS detailing each alien's employment period.
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Timeline
Jul 19, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 19, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Aug 17, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3297
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
  • July 19, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 19, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • August 17, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3297
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3297: To streamline the application process for H-2A employers and for other purposes.
Administrative remediesDepartment of LaborForeign laborFruit and vegetablesImmigration status and proceduresLivestockMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborVisas and passports

A bill to streamline the application process for H-2A employers and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1578| Senate 
| Updated: 7/19/2017
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a process for filing petitions for nonimmigrant temporary agricultural workers (H-2A visa) that ensures that: (1) petitions may be filed through Labor's website or in a paper format, and (2) any technical deficiency in the petition will be indicated to the petitioner before submission. An employer that has received a request for evidence from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) may request that such evidence request be delivered in an online format. CIS, within 10 days of the employer's submission of evidence, shall: (1) provide an online response indicating whether the evidence is sufficient; and (2) if the evidence is insufficient, provide the employer with an opportunity to address the deficiencies. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to include year-round equine or livestock workers (including dairy or poultry workers) within the H-2A visa category. The requirement that apple pressing be performed on a farm in order to qualify for H-2A status is eliminated. The bill permits multiple employers to submit a joint petition to import nonimmigrant H-2A visa temporary agricultural workers. Upon approval of such petition, each joint employer shall be subject to the Act's H-2A provisions with respect to each alien listed in the petition. An employer seeking to rehire H-2A workers who previously worked for the employer as H-2A workers at any time may submit a simplified petition, to be developed by CIS, which shall include a certification that the employer complies with all applicable employment requirements. Such petitions shall be approved upon completion of applicable security screenings. An employer seeking to hire H-2A workers during different time periods in a given fiscal year may submit a single petition to CIS detailing each alien's employment period.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 19, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 19, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Aug 17, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3297
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
  • July 19, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 19, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • August 17, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3297
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Jon Tester (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3297: To streamline the application process for H-2A employers and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesDepartment of LaborForeign laborFruit and vegetablesImmigration status and proceduresLivestockMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborVisas and passports