5 Reasons to Consider Switching Your H2A Agency
Ag businesses that participate in the H2A Visa Program often choose to work with an H2A agency to handle their H2A application and, in some cases, find reliable H2A labor. We covered the many benefits of using an H2A agency in a previous blog post. In another previous post, we provided a checklist of what you should expect from your H2A agency.
The reality is, not all H2A agencies provide the same level of support and expertise. USA Farm Labor receives calls daily from ag businesses that are looking for alternatives to their current H2A provider.
So, when is it time to consider switching your H2A agency? This blog is designed to help farms and ag businesses understand the costs of not having the right H2A agency partner, which red flags to look out for, and the top reasons why ag businesses switch H2A agencies. This will help ensure you’re getting everything you need to get the most out of the H2A Program while managing your costs and risk.
Alarming patterns to watch out for
Agricultural businesses don't typically decide to switch H2A agencies based on a single mistake. It’s usually after a pattern of issues develops, prompting them to seek out a better option.
It may be time to evaluate other H2A agencies if you answer "yes" to three or more of the following:
Do you often have trouble finding good workers to choose from?
Are workers consistently arriving late?
Are your questions or concerns not addressed quickly? Or not at all?
Are you surprised to find out about issues you knew nothing about until the last minute?
Do you feel in the dark and exposed from a compliance standpoint?
Are fees unclear, increasing, or unexpected?
Have you frequently had to fix mistakes made by your H2A agency?
Are you frequently concerned that critical deadlines will be met?
Does your agency seem unfamiliar with your crop, region, or labor needs?
Even if you don't switch right away, evaluating your options helps give you a clear picture of how your current H2A agency measures up when it comes to service, cost, managing risk, and providing reliable H2A labor.
Costs of not having the right H2A agency
The costs of not partnering with the right H2A agency go beyond their direct fees and government agency fees. Additional consequences that impact your bottom line include:
Lost production/harvest
Compliance fines (such as monetary penalties and back wages)
Administrative burdens that take time away from focusing on improving your operation
Missed growth opportunities
Top 5 triggers that signal it may be time to switch your H2A agency
While there are a wide range of reasons why ag businesses decide to change their H2A agency, these are the top triggers that most often lead them to look at other agency options. We’ve also included some warning signs to watch for.
Trigger #1: Unreliable worker quality and arrival
The reliability of H2A labor is one of the primary reasons ag businesses participate in the H2A Visa Program. Reliability comes in various forms, which include:
Quality of workers
The quality of H2A labor directly affects your productivity. Some agencies develop stronger recruiting networks than others.
Red flags that might signal poor recruitment, skill verification, or matching:
Attendance issues
Lower productivity
Workers lack expected skills or experience
Promise workers but no reference checks
Workers arriving late or not at all
The H2A Program is designed to provide reliable, seasonal farm labor during peak cycles. Late worker arrivals can happen for reasons outside an agency's control. But repeated delays may indicate bigger issues. Even a delay of a few days can significantly impact your crop quality and yields.
Red flags that might signal poor case management or processes:
Workers repeatedly arrive after critical planting or harvest windows
Missed filing deadlines
Poor coordination of recruitment, visa processing, or transportation
Arrival dates frequently change
Continually blames delays on "unexpected issues"
Trigger #2: Compliance mistakes that increase legal or financial risk
The H2A Visa Program involves extensive federal requirements from multiple government agencies. Your H2A agency should proactively help you maintain H2A compliance to minimize your risk. H2A compliance issues can be very costly.
Red flags that might signal a lack of expertise, experience, or attention to detail:
Can’t clearly explain H2A compliance requirements
Provides vague answers to questions about specific H2A compliance requirements
Doesn’t proactively stay current on (and keep you updated on) changing regulations and H2A Program requirements
Minimizes compliance questions and concerns
Recurring instances of documentation errors, missing or incomplete documentation
No support or guidance for maintaining H2A compliance and staying audit-ready
Trigger #3: Poor communication and customer service
Most ag businesses rely on tight timelines for planting, cultivation, and harvest. You need a proactive, take-action H2A agency that keeps you informed every step of the way and addresses your questions and concerns quickly.
Red flags that might signal poor customer service skills, insufficient staff, or inefficient systems or processes:
Emails, texts, or calls go without any response for days or weeks
Not clear who to contact with questions or concerns
Difficult to reach your primary contact (or not even being assigned a primary contact)
Conflicting answers depending on who you talk to
Never proactively reach out to check in on how things are going through the season
Important deadlines are missed, or only met with you continually pushing for action
Fire drills are too frequent, ones that could’ve been avoided altogether with timely communication
Trigger #4: Unexpected costs and fees
Ag businesses are facing continually rising costs and shrinking margins. It’s vital that you can count on your H2A agency to be transparent about H2A Program costs and that your actual experience matches these costs.
Red flags that might signal a lack of transparency or knowledge, or intentional vagueness to mask a lack of value:
Costs estimates are vague, unclear, or wildly inaccurate
You’re hit with unexpected fees
Billing practices and timelines are unclear
Difficult to understand what costs are for or what all is included
Invoices differ significantly from estimates
Price increases aren’t explained
Trigger #5: Inability to scale and grow with your changing H2A labor needs
Ag operations don’t stand still. Having a full-service H2A agency by your side is important, so they can support your evolving needs—whether your needs change as a result of expansion, retirement, new generations taking over, or something else.
Red flags that might signal limited capabilities, expertise, and support:
Services are paperwork-only, leaving you on your own to source and hire H2A labor
Lack of resources or expertise to plan for upcoming seasons, or anticipate and help prepare you for potential challenges
Can’t provide support in all the states you operate
Can’t provide H2A labor for both crops and livestock
Can’t help you find and hire H2A labor with more advanced skillsets
Lack of resources or expertise to provide compliance guidance as you grow
Lack of technology and reporting that make it easier to manage your H2A documentation and requirements, find and hire workers, maintain compliance, and make informed decisions
Key considerations when looking to switch your H2A agency
Here are a few questions to get answered when evaluating alternative H2A agencies:
Are the costs clear and predictable?
Does the agency have a transactional (getting you a Temporary Labor Certification and/or workers) or strategic approach (helping you plan and improve operations, stay compliant, minimize risk)?
Does the agency have a solid recruitment network and a proven track record of providing quality workers?
Does the agency and/or its recruiters verify worker references?
Does the agency track worker performance over time (references, evaluations)?
Will you have access to technology or tools to simplify the worker sourcing, interviewing, and hiring process?
Does the agency help provide H2A compliance and audit guidance and support?
Does the agency have a proven history of success, backed by ratings and real customer testimonials?
Does the agency provide support all season or just until workers arrive?
Why USA Farm Labor?
USA Farm Labor’s goal is to build long-term relationships with ag businesses. That’s why we’re continually looking for ways to add value beyond providing labor certs and workers.
We work to improve operations, minimize risk, and go the extra mile by providing:
Dedicated Case Managers and Worker Placement Coordinators
Reliable H2A workers (93% rate of successful placements)
Tips for choosing, interviewing, and hiring H2A workers
Advocacy to drive positive H2A Program change
A comprehensive H2A onboarding roadmap
Tips on how to effectively manage H2A workers
Ways to resolve H2A worker conflicts
Tips on how to maintain H2A compliance all season long
An H2A self-audit checklist to always be prepared
A proprietary database that streamlines hiring workers, maintaining compliance, and more
Access to experts in compliance, payroll, audits, bookkeeping, and more
