In-person interviews only required for H-2B applicants causing delays to both visa types
Two recent letters sent to the Administration underscore a growing and urgent concern across both agricultural and seasonal business communities: visa processing delays tied to required H-2B in-person interviews are disrupting access to critical H-2 workers at the exact moment employers need them most.
In a joint letter sent by major agricultural organizations—including the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Council of Agricultural Employers and signed by over 100 agricultural associations including FEWA —industry leaders highlight mounting backlogs in the H-2A visa process.
While recent federal actions, such as wage rule adjustments and modernization efforts at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, have aimed to improve the system, technical issues and increased screening requirements at the U.S. Department of State are creating new bottlenecks.
Because the H-2A process is highly sequential, delays at any stage ripple across the system—leaving farmers waiting on workers while absorbing significant costs for housing and preparation.
The letter calls for an immediate expansion of interview waivers for returning, previously vetted workers as a practical, proven solution to ease pressure on consulates and ensure timely workforce arrival during critical planting and harvest windows.
A parallel message comes from the H-2B Workforce Coalition, representing industries such as landscaping, hospitality, seafood, and tourism. That letter, signed by FEWA COO Arnulfo Hinojosa who serves as the Coalition’s Vice Chair, raises similar concerns: the reinstatement of mandatory in-person interviews for all H-2B applicants—combined with reduced consular staffing—has slowed processing times and left seasonal businesses without the workers they depend on during peak seasons.
Like their agricultural counterparts, the Coalition emphasizes that returning H-2B workers are already vetted, comply with visa requirements, and play a vital role in supporting broader local economies.
Both letters point to a shared, bipartisan solution: restoring and expanding interview waiver authorities would allow the system to function more efficiently without compromising national security, helping ensure that American businesses can meet demand, support domestic jobs, and maintain economic stability.