H-2A – Trabajos Temporales Agrícolas H-2A Agricultural Visa: The US Farm Work Opportunity for Honduran Workers 2025
The H-2A visa is one of the most accessible routes for Honduran workers to work legally in the United States. Unlike the H-2B, it has no annual cap — employers can request as many workers as they can demonstrate needing. Honduras is on the official list of eligible countries for H-2A and H-2B, valid through November 2025.
What does the H-2A cover?
The H-2A is exclusively for temporary or seasonal agricultural work:
- Planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops
- Livestock and animal husbandry
- Aquaculture and fishing
- Forestry
If the work is non-agricultural (hotels, restaurants, ornamental landscaping), the H-2B visa applies, not the H-2A.
Your rights as an H-2A worker
The H-2A program has important labor protections that many workers don't know about:
Protected wage (AEWR)
The employer must pay the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), set annually by the Department of Labor. This wage is typically above the federal minimum wage and protects both H-2A workers and US agricultural workers.
FREE housing and transportation
By law, the employer must provide:
- Free housing for the duration of the contract
- Free transportation from Honduras to the worksite and back
- Free daily transportation to and from work
If any recruiter or employer asks you to pay for housing or transportation from Honduras, that is a legal violation and a possible human trafficking indicator.
Three-quarter guarantee
Even if the employer doesn't have enough work for you, they must pay you for 75% of the hours listed in your work order.
How does the H-2A process work?
- The employer obtains a certified job order from the DOL (US Department of Labor).
- The employer files an I-129 petition with USCIS.
- USCIS approves and the worker can apply for the consular visa.
- Interview at the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa.
- Entry and work in the US during the agricultural season.
What you MUST know before signing
- Demand a written contract before your consular interview. It must specify: crop, worksite address, wage rate, start and end dates, and the three-quarter work guarantee.
- The visa is tied to the employer and the season. Changing employers or working outside the terms of your H-2A is a federal violation.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your contract end date. Renew it BEFORE your employer files the petition.
- Never pay a recruiter to "get you" H-2A work. Legitimate recruiters charge the employer.
Key difference: H-2A vs H-2B
| Feature | H-2A | H-2B |
|---|---|---|
| Work type | Agricultural | Non-agricultural |
| Annual cap | No cap | 66,000 + supplemental |
| Housing required | Yes | Not required |
| Examples | Harvest, livestock | Hotels, landscaping, seafood |
Do you have a US agricultural job offer and don't know if it's legitimate? At Honduras Global we verify employers and help you navigate the process. Contact us before you commit.