Hiring Farm Workers to Service Other Farmers
Using the H2A Visa Program as a Farm Labor Contractor or Custom Harvester
Making the H2A Visa Program work as a Farm Labor Contractor
If you provide services on farms for other farmers—chances are you’re a Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) and may not even know it. USA Farm Labor can help you get skilled, reliable farm workers using the H2A Visa Program. And our dedicated Farm Labor Contractor department can save you thousands of hours submitting and managing documents.
You might be a Farm Labor Contractor if you:
Provide irrigation or drainage systems
Drill wells
Repair farm equipment
Spray fertilizer or pesticides
Provide crop dusting services
Build farm structures
Repair farm equipment
And more …
Step 1: Getting your Farm Labor Contractor License (90 days)
Requirements to get your Farm Labor Contractor License include:
As an FLC Owner you must:
Have a FEIN number
Have an active Workman’s Comp policy
Have vehicle liability insurance
Inspect all vehicles that workers will have access to (WH514 form)
Provide proof for all vehicles, include the make, model, and year
Provide a copy of your driver’s license (front & back)
Provide your fingerprints on an FD-258 form (we can mail to you)
List 3 — 5 worksites (keep in mind you can only travel a maximum of 1 hour to each site to qualify as a Farm Labor Contractor)
Provide a Surety Bond to cover you in the event something unforeseen, such as a hurricane or damage at the worksite, prevents you from offering the full hours listed in the job contract
As FLC Employees (anyone driving H-2A farm workers) you must:
Provide a copy of your driver’s license (front & back)
Provide a medical certificate (either a DOT form or Federal/DOL for H-2A form WH515)
Provide your fingerprints on an FD-258 form (we can mail to you)
Once we have all the above, we mail your application to the Wage & Hour division. It can take up to 90 days to get your license once we submit your application.
Very Pleased with the Professionalism
“We’ve been very pleased with the professionalism of the entire staff … they made wading through the federal and state paperwork a breeze.”
Jacklyn (Fairview, MT)
Step 2: Getting farm workers through the H2A Visa Program (90 days)
While we’re waiting to get your Farm Labor Contractor License, we can get the H2A Visa Program ball rolling. This process takes approximately an additional 90 days.
Learn about H2A Visa Program requirements
Learn about the H2A Visa Program process
Helping Custom Harvesters use the H2A Visa Program
Custom Harvesters are a special classification of Farm Labor Contractors. As a Custom Harvester, you typically travel to the same farms, year after year, to harvest crops for other farmers. This saves farmers from having to invest in expensive equipment.
As a Custom Harvester Owner:
You are not required to get a Farm Labor Contractor License
You must provide 3 — 5 worksites
Your worksites must be in contiguous states
You must provide a Surety Bond to cover you in the event something unforeseen, such as a hurricane or damage at the worksite, prevents you from offering the full hours listed in the job contract
Read how Matt and Valerie Brack increased output, enhanced harvesting efficiency, and regained control of their lives with USA Farm Labor and the H2A Visa Program.
