A busy season alone does not establish H-2B eligibility. Learn how payroll, contracts, staffing patterns, and other business records can support your temporary need, requested worker count, and employment dates, plus how seasonal and peakload needs differ.

Could H-2A or H-2B help your business prepare for its next busy season? Learn how the programs differ, why the duties and timing of the work matter, and what employers should review before starting the filing process.

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.

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.