New H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates take effect August 3 (August 17 in select states), and the change catches many employers mid-season. Here's the key question answered: if the new AEWR is higher than what you're currently paying, you must raise wages immediately, even on already-certified job orders. If it's lower, the previously certified rate stands. Full breakdown of effective dates, the Big 5 vs. other-occupation rate split, surety bond impact, and California's AB 2646.

Many H-2B employers ask if they are required to pay for worker housing. The compliance answer is no for most nonagricultural positions, but the practical answer is different. Learn why housing readiness protects your workforce, your compliance record, and your season.

OFLC received 2,625 H-2B applications for October 1, 2026, covering 51,158 worker positions, an 8% increase over last year. Learn what the growth means, how Assignment Groups A and B work, and why Group B employers face a tougher cycle this time with contingency planning more important than ever.

FY2027 is almost here. OFLC has confirmed the three-day H-2B filing window for October 1, 2026 work start dates runs July 3 through July 5, 2026. All window applications are randomized after closing, so accuracy matters more than speed. Key reminders: one application per job opportunity, concurrent SWA job order required, and Appendix B signatures must be current. Questions? Contact Kirchner Law.

USCIS issued a new policy memo on H-2A visas for dairy operations, and the coverage has overstated what it actually does. The memo does not create a new pathway or lower the bar. It fills a gap in written guidance and standardizes how adjudicators review dairy petitions. Here is what changed, what did not, and what it means if you are considering H-2A for your dairy operation.

After more than a decade in H-2B, the same costly mistakes keep appearing across case files. From starting too late and weak job descriptions to scope creep after workers arrive and over-reliance on H-2B as a sole staffing solution, these are the errors that derail seasons, trigger audits, and result in denied petitions. This final installment of the H-2B Start to Finish series covers what employers need to know before it costs them.