H-2A and H-2B Visas: US Seasonal Work Without a Degree

You don't have a degree, but you're a hard worker, and a season picking fruit or working at a US resort could change your family's finances. Then someone offers you a "guaranteed US visa" for a fee. Before you pay anything, learn how the real system works.

H-2A and H-2B visas let US employers hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal jobs. This guide covers how employers recruit, who pays for what, your rights and how to spot scams. It reflects official rules as of September 2026, and some rules are under review, so confirm details on the official pages.

What are H-2A and H-2B visas?

The H-2A visa is for temporary or seasonal farm work, like planting, harvesting or tending animals. The H-2B visa is for temporary non-farm work, such as landscaping, hotel housekeeping, construction or seafood processing.

In both programs, the employer must show there aren't enough US workers able, willing and qualified to do the job. It must also show that hiring you won't lower pay or conditions for US workers. You don't need a degree, just the experience or skills the job lists.

These visas are temporary. They don't lead to a green card on their own, so plan to go home at the end of each contract.

H-2A vs H-2B at a glance

The H-2B cap fills fast. On September 4, 2026, USCIS said it had reached the cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027, so new cap-subject petitions with start dates before April 1, 2027 are being rejected.

How employers recruit H-2A and H-2B workers

The employer does most of the paperwork. Here's the usual order.

1. The employer applies to the Department of Labor for a temporary labor certification, proving it needs workers and will pay the required wage.
2. The job is advertised. Many H-2 jobs appear on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, the Labor Department's official job search site.
3. The employer or its recruiter selects workers. It must give you the job terms in writing, in a language you understand.
4. The employer files Form I-129 with USCIS. As of September 2026, the USCIS fee for a paper H-2A petition with named workers is $1,090, and $1,080 for H-2B. The employer pays these, not you.
5. You apply for the visa at a US embassy or consulate and attend an interview.
6. You travel and start work on the dates in your contract.

Which countries are eligible for H-2A and H-2B visas?

For years, DHS published a list of countries whose nationals could get H-2 visas. That changed. Under a rule effective January 17, 2025, USCIS no longer needs to consider whether a worker is from a designated country when it reviews H-2A or H-2B petitions.

That doesn't mean everyone can go. You still need a real job offer, an approved petition and a visa interview. Separate State Department travel restrictions or visa policies may also apply to some nationalities, so check with the US embassy in your country.

Who pays for travel, housing and visa fees?

Money is where many workers get cheated, so know the rules before you sign.

For H-2A jobs, the employer must provide free housing if you can't return home the same day, plus free daily transport between housing and work. It must provide or pay for your inbound travel and meals, or reimburse reasonable costs once you complete 50% of the contract. When you finish, it must pay your return travel. Tools must be free.

For H-2B jobs, the employer must pay or reimburse visa, visa processing and related fees in your first workweek. It must cover inbound travel and daily meals and lodging costs by the time you finish 50% of the job order, and return travel if you finish the job or are dismissed early.

Budget for the gap. You may pay some costs upfront and get paid back weeks later. Keep every receipt, and ask whether you can open a bank account so wages don't sit in cash.

Your rights as an H-2 worker

• Fair pay. H-2A workers get the highest of several set rates, including the adverse effect wage rate (a special farm wage floor). H-2B workers get the highest of the prevailing wage or the federal, state or local minimum wage.
• Hours guarantee. H-2A workers are guaranteed at least three-fourths of the hours in the contract.
• No retaliation. You can't be fired or punished for complaining or asserting your rights.
• Grace periods. A rule effective January 2025 gives H-2 workers up to 60 days in some situations to find new work or prepare to leave.
• Help. You can contact the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.

Recruiter fee scams and common mistakes

Say you're a farm worker in Oaxaca. A recruiter promises a strawberry harvest job in the US but asks for $800 as a "placement fee" to hold your spot. That's a red flag. Employers and their recruiters can't collect recruitment or placement fees from you, even as a wage deduction. USCIS denies or revokes petitions when it finds these fees, and H-2B employers can be banned from filing for one to three years.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Paying any recruitment, placement or "visa guarantee" fee.
• Handing over your passport to a recruiter to "hold".
• Signing a contract you can't read or that differs from the job ad.
• Skipping the job check on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov.
• Overstaying. It can ruin your chances of coming back.

If a visa is refused, read our guide on what to do after a visa refusal.

What to do next

Search SeasonalJobs.dol.gov for real jobs, and make sure your passport is valid. Keep copies of your contract and receipts, and save the Wage and Hour Division number in your phone.

Want to compare options? See our guide to US work visas explained, or look at Canada farm jobs with visa sponsorship. No employer or recruiter can guarantee a visa, so never pay for a promise.