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Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act

USA117th CongressHR-206| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2021
Trent Kelly

Trent Kelly

Republican Representative

Mississippi

Cosponsors (1)
Andy Barr (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act This bill expands the H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visa program to cover additional types of labor, makes various changes to the program, and provides a safe harbor for errors in nonimmigrant worker visa applications in certain instances. The bill makes H-2A visas available to an alien providing temporary labor that falls within the federal government classification categories for (1) grounds maintenance workers; (2) farming, fishing, and forestry occupations; or (3) forest, conservation, and logging workers. The bill authorizes joint employers to file a joint petition for an H-2A alien. The bill allows (1) employers seeking to rehire an H-2A worker to submit a simplified petition, and (2) employers seeking to hire H-2A workers for different time periods during a fiscal year to submit a single petition for such workers. The Department of Labor shall establish an electronic filing and appeals system for H-2A petitions. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shall communicate electronically with an H-2A employer when USCIS requests evidence from the employer, if the employer asks to do so. An employer who uses a third-party service to apply for a nonimmigrant worker visa shall not be civilly or criminally liable for errors in the application if the employer reasonably believed that the application was accurate and complied with statutory requirements.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3319
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act
Jan 5, 2021
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 4, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Sep 8, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-4813
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3319
    Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act


  • January 5, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • January 5, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 4, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.


  • September 8, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-4813
    Introduced in Senate

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 117-4813: Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act
Administrative remediesAquacultureDepartment of LaborForeign laborForests, forestry, treesFruit and vegetablesHorticulture and plantsImmigration status and proceduresLivestockMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborSeafoodVisas and passports

Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act

USA117th CongressHR-206| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2021
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act This bill expands the H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visa program to cover additional types of labor, makes various changes to the program, and provides a safe harbor for errors in nonimmigrant worker visa applications in certain instances. The bill makes H-2A visas available to an alien providing temporary labor that falls within the federal government classification categories for (1) grounds maintenance workers; (2) farming, fishing, and forestry occupations; or (3) forest, conservation, and logging workers. The bill authorizes joint employers to file a joint petition for an H-2A alien. The bill allows (1) employers seeking to rehire an H-2A worker to submit a simplified petition, and (2) employers seeking to hire H-2A workers for different time periods during a fiscal year to submit a single petition for such workers. The Department of Labor shall establish an electronic filing and appeals system for H-2A petitions. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shall communicate electronically with an H-2A employer when USCIS requests evidence from the employer, if the employer asks to do so. An employer who uses a third-party service to apply for a nonimmigrant worker visa shall not be civilly or criminally liable for errors in the application if the employer reasonably believed that the application was accurate and complied with statutory requirements.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3319
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act
Jan 5, 2021
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 4, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Sep 8, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-4813
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3319
    Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act


  • January 5, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • January 5, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 4, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.


  • September 8, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-4813
    Introduced in Senate
Trent Kelly

Trent Kelly

Republican Representative

Mississippi

Cosponsors (1)
Andy Barr (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 117-4813: Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H–2A Modernization Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesAquacultureDepartment of LaborForeign laborForests, forestry, treesFruit and vegetablesHorticulture and plantsImmigration status and proceduresLivestockMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborSeafoodVisas and passports