U.S. Labor Department to Implement Online Application System for Farmers Thanks to Hochul's Efforts

Statement

After meeting today with Department of Labor (DOL) officials, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul announced that farmers looking to apply for H-2A visas should have the ability to do so through a web-based filing system by the end of the summer. Prior to today's meeting with Gerri Fiala, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration at the DOL, Hochul held countless conversations with farmers across the district about the need to streamline the temporary worker program, and subsequently wrote letters and held meetings with Department of Labor officials to discuss the need to implement these reforms.

"Last summer, I was shocked to learn that a local farmer in Genesee County had to mail almost twenty pounds of paperwork to the federal government in order to participate in the H-2A visa program," said Congresswoman Hochul. "I am pleased to announce that, for the first time ever, farmers will have the choice to submit, check the status of, and view results of their H-2A visas applications online. I'm happy to have helped streamline this basic service and make the application process easier for Western New York farmers. As our farmers bring their goods to market in the 21st century economy, they expect to have a government that will innovate with the times and help their businesses grow."

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