United States · Work
United States H-2A Farm worker
First stay: 3 yrs
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
H-2A Farm worker is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $1,090
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$1,090
- $1,090Form I-129H2A with named workers (USD 1,040 online; USD 545 small employer or nonprofit); unnamed workers USD 530 paper (USD 480 online).
RenewalRenewable, 3 years max
Stay follows the temporary labour certification and can be extended in steps of up to 1 year, to a maximum of 3 years in H or L status combined, then 60 days outside the U.S. resets the clock.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 3 years in total
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a job offer from an employer in United States
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- USCIS no longer considers a designated list of eligible countries (rule effective Jan. 17, 2025).
What you must show2
- No job placement or similar fee may be collected from the worker.
- Collecting such a fee leads to denial or revocation.
Steps1
- The employer obtains a temporary labor certification.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years in total
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Temporary agricultural work for a U.S. employer holding a Department of Labor temporary labor certification. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $1,090 · Form I-129H2A with named workers (USD 1,040 online; USD 545 small employer or nonprofit); unnamed workers USD 530 paper (USD 480 online). 2
Requirements
- USCIS no longer considers a designated list of eligible countries (rule effective Jan. 17, 2025). 1
- No job placement or similar fee may be collected from the worker. 1
- Collecting such a fee leads to denial or revocation. 1
- The employer obtains a temporary labor certification. 1
Stay
- Up to the period on the temporary labor certification; extensions of up to 1 year; maximum 3 years in H or L status combined, then 60 days outside the United States to reset.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality list applies since Jan. 17, 2025.
Work
Work for the petitioning agricultural employer.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 as H-4; H-4 family cannot work.
Official sources
- H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
H-2A Farm worker and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-2A Farm worker | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| E-3 Australian specialty | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| EB-1B Outstanding researcher | – | – | – |
| EB-1C Multinational manager | – | – | – |
| EB-2 Advanced degree | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the H-2A Farm worker?
A fee of $1,090. Form I-129H2A with named workers (USD 1,040 online; USD 545 small employer or nonprofit); unnamed workers USD 530 paper (USD 480 online).
How long can I stay on the H-2A Farm worker?
Up to the period on the temporary labor certification; extensions of up to 1 year; maximum 3 years in H or L status combined, then 60 days outside the United States to reset.
Can I work on the H-2A Farm worker?
Work for the petitioning agricultural employer.
Can I bring my family on the H-2A Farm worker?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 as H-4; H-4 family cannot work.
How are H-2A Farm worker holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the H-2A Farm worker. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
More in United States
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.