Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate for USCIS | https://www.dhswatchlist.com/
This represents an approval rate of 100%, which is higher than the nationwide average.
That year, the average approval rate for H-2A petitions across the U.S. stood at 98.8%, slightly higher than 2023's 98.4%.
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-2A visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs when enough domestic workers are unavailable. Employers must demonstrate a short-term need and that hiring foreign workers will not negatively affect U.S. workers' wages or working conditions. These jobs must first be offered to U.S. workers, and both domestic and H-2A workers must receive at least the highest of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) or other wage benchmarks.
The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry led the H-2A petition approvals in the Southern Wisconsin Times publication area during 2024, filing a total of 125 petitions (71% of all submissions) and receiving 125 approvals, resulting in an approval rate of 100%. The Wholesale Trade industry followed, with 26 petitions (14.8% of all submissions) and an approval rate of 100%.
The local employers with most temporary visa requests during 2024 included Fergusons Morningside Orchard, LLC, which filed 84 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Bonnie Plants, LLC with 26 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Seneca Foods Corporation, which filed 25 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, Southern Wisconsin Times publication area saw a 22.1% decrease in the number of seasonal agricultural visas during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
Due to manual data entry and the use of paper forms by applicants or petitioners, occasional discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details may be found in the H-2A Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the data used in this article. Despite these potential issues, USCIS works to ensure accuracy.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 125 | 71% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Wholesale Trade | 26 | 14.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Manufacturing | 25 | 14.2% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fergusons Morningside Orchard, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 84 | 100% | 0% |
| Bonnie Plants, LLC | Wholesale Trade | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Seneca Foods Corporation | Manufacturing | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| Evergreens Unlimited, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| H and M Custom Agent Services, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Comstock Trees and Service, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Gwenyn Hill Farm, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| Debucks Sod Farm of Wisconsin, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Leffel Roots, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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