H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act

H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act or the HIRE Act

This bill addresses issues relating to temporary work visas, including by extending the period of stay for H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) and H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visas.

Under this bill, the period of stay for an H-2A or H-2B visa shall generally be three years, whereas under current law, these visas are typically valid for up to a year with extensions available for one-year periods for up to three consecutive years. Specifically, this bill establishes that labor certifications and petitions for such visas shall be valid for three years. (Under current regulations, the period of stay for an H-2A or H-2B visa is for the validity period of the underlying petition and supporting labor certification, with some additional time to allow the visa holder to relocate to and from the United States.)

The bill also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to waive the in-person requirement for an individual seeking to renew an H-2A or H-2B visa within four years of the expiration of the earlier visa.

The Department of Labor must publish on its website information on the number of seasons during which an employer expects to have seasonal employment available, if the employer requests such information.

Bill 118 hr 4708, also known as the H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act, aims to make improvements to the H-2 visa program, which allows employers in the United States to hire foreign workers for temporary agricultural and non-agricultural jobs. The bill seeks to streamline the application process for employers seeking to hire H-2 workers, as well as provide additional protections for both workers and employers.

One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a pilot program that would allow employers to apply for H-2 visas online, reducing the time and paperwork required to bring in foreign workers. This would make it easier for employers to fill seasonal or temporary job openings quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to protect H-2 workers from exploitation and abuse. It requires employers to provide workers with written contracts outlining the terms of their employment, including wages, hours, and working conditions. Employers would also be required to provide transportation to and from the worksite, as well as housing that meets certain standards. Overall, the H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act aims to make the H-2 visa program more efficient and effective for both employers and workers. By streamlining the application process and providing additional protections for workers, the bill seeks to ensure that the program benefits all parties involved.