Foreign H-2A Farmworkers Can Bypass New Visa Interview Rules

The State Department is adding seasonal farmworkers seeking H-2A visas to a narrow set of travelers eligible for interview waivers for the documents.

The agency in July announced it would restrict eligibility for interview waivers granted to most visa users under the Biden administration. A Thursday policy update added H-2A visa seekers to the list of applicants still eligible, which include government and diplomatic officials as well as some tourist and business travelers.

The elimination of waivers allows for more in-person vetting of applicants but will likely add to consular backlogs and travel times. The Trump administration has received pressure ...