USCIS Gives H-2A Workers Temporary Flexibility to Stay and Work Longer
Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
USCIS Gives H-2A Workers Temporary Flexibility to Stay and Work Longer
Notice was published in the Federal register on Monday that gives H-2A workers temporary flexibility to stay and work longer in the United States. A key excerpt from the notice follows:
"Namely, the Department will allow H-2A employers whose extension of stay H-2A petitions are supported by valid temporary labor certifications (TLCs) issued by the Department of Labor to begin work immediately after the extension of stay petition is received by USCIS. The Department is also temporarily amending its regulations to allow H-2A workers to stay in the United States beyond the 3 years maximum allowable period of stay. DHS will apply this temporary final rule to H-2A petitions requesting an extension of stay, and, if applicable, any associated applications for an extension of stay filed by or on behalf of an H-2A worker, if they were received on or after March 1, 2020 and remain pending as of the effective date of this rule, as well as H-2A petitions for an extension of stay, received on or after the effective date of this rule, ending on the last day this rule is in effect."This will be welcome news for farmers who are scrambling this year to make sure they have enough workers to carry out the season's production. Employers who find they need their H-2A employees longer than originally planned can have their H-2A workers continue to work while awaiting approval from USCIS for an extension request. In addition, allowing H-2A workers to stay beyond usual 3 year individual maximum time, will allow more workers to move from job order to job order without having to return to their home country for a few months. This should make more workers available and eligible for work in the U.S. at a time when they are desperately needed.
H-2A Employers now have housing flexibility to provide for workers, access to expanded emergency job orders, and access to a database of workers already in the country.
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This workshop series will feature in-depth presentation and discussion led by Dr. Padraig French who is the Head of Livestock Systems and the Dairy Enterprise Leader at Teagasc (the Irish version of USDA). Dr. French will focus on the critical success factors for Irish dairy, which include pasture utilization, labor efficiency and managing for seasonal calving. The discussion will focus on ways that U.S. dairy farmers can use some of the Irish dairy techniques to become more profitable with grass farming.
Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
October 2, 2025 : Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
Partners from New York State Dept. of Labor, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Southern Tier West, and Workforce Development will be in the space to provide an overview of the new program, discuss the roles of hosts and apprentices, review the benefits of hosting an apprentice, and setting the vision for building a corps of highly skilled, modern trained Butchers and validating this career as a skilled trade with respectful earning potential.
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Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.
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