Harris Beach Murtha Immigration Practice Group leader L.J. D’Arrigo recently appeared on the Immigration Nerds podcast to discuss changes to the H-2A visa program and the affect on our nation’s farms.

L.J. joined podcast host Lauren Clarke to talk about the government shutdown’s impact on immigration, the new skill-based wages and housing adjustment for H-2A employers and a variety of other H-2A topics.

The federal government shutdown froze H-2A temporary visa processing at a time when farmers must prepare for planting season. L.J. said the government shutdown’s main impact on the H-2A program is that the Department of Labor is effectively closed and not accepting new applications. He expects a surge of applications and backlogs once the government reopens. He is hopeful there will be an abbreviated approval process and waivers to speed things up.

“We are preparing our clients right now to expect delays…but crops are going to rot,” he said. “They need to be planted. They need to be harvested on time.”

L.J. praised the new “staggard arrivals” system making it easier to bring workers into the country at different times during the farming season. Previously, he said, employers had to file visa applications throughout the season, but now can file a single application at the very beginning of the season and workers can come at any time.

To hear his thoughts on the new skill-based wage system, the housing adjustment that will benefit employers and other H-2A topics, visit the full podcast.