The U.S. government expects to issue over 500,000 H2A (temporary unskilled agricultural) visas this year which is a 119,000 increase over the 420,000 annual average.
The administration has lowered the state-specific wage rate for H2A visa-holders and has allowed growers to charge workers for housing (when in the past the government required that the grower pay for housing for visa holders).
Example: North Carolina’s new wage rate is $11.09/hour, last year was $16.16
Immigration Insight 