This bill makes it easier for temporary agricultural workers to renew their visas by skipping the in-person interview requirement. Right now, when farmworkers on H-2A visas want to come back and work for the same employer the next year, they have to go through a full visa interview process. This bill would let the Department of Homeland Security waive that interview requirement for workers who are returning to the same job with the same employer and don't have any immigration problems that would make them ineligible. The waiver would last for up to three years, meaning eligible workers could potentially skip interviews for multiple years in a row. Essentially, this streamlines the process for seasonal agricultural workers who have already been vetted and are simply continuing established work relationships, reducing bureaucratic delays and making it simpler for farms to retain experienced workers.

FAWA

Mace, Nancy

Farmworker Access and Waiver Act or the FAWA This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to waive the interview requirement for certain returning H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) visa holders. Specifically, this waiver shall apply to a visa holder who (1) previously had an H-2A visa and is returning to resume work with the same employer as the previous year, and (2) is not inadmissible. The waiver shall be valid for up to three years from issuance. (Current law typically requires individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa, such as an H-2A visa, to submit to an in-person interview, with waivers available in certain instances.)