March 25, 2020
www.gfb.org
Vol. 2 No. 6
GFB WORKS TO SECURE NEEDED FARM WORKERS DURING COVID-19 Since March 17, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has been working closely with Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation, USDA officials, American Farm Bureau and other ag allies to avoid labor shortages caused by changes in how H-2A workers are processed due to the COVID-19 response. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico announced March 16 an indefinite suspension of routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services beginning March 18 in response to COVID-19. GFB immediately began receiving calls from producers who were concerned about the potential impact this decision could have on their farms. According to AFBF, visa activities for H-2A workers who are eligible for interview waivers will be prioritized. Workers eligible for interview waivers include returning H-2A applicants whose visas have expired in the last twelve months and are now applying for the same visa classification and did not require a waiver the last time they applied for a visa. GFB is pleased to report that the messages from our farmer-members have been well received and the issue is being taken seriously by policymakers. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler along with Reps. Rick Allen, Sanford Bishop, Buddy Carter, Doug Collins, Tom Graves, Jody Hice, Austin Scott and Rob Woodall joined other U.S. senators and representatives from across the country in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. In their letter, the legislators asked the agencies to take the following actions to support American farmers: • Use all existing available authorities to provide maximum flexibility to consulate staff in the processing of H-2A visa applicants, while implementing protocols to protect public health. • Identify any current legal or logistical hurdles that may prevent U.S. agencies from implementing additional flexibilities, such as developing a separate screening process or remote interviews, in processing H-2A visa applicants. • Provide an estimation of any costs associated with implementing any of the aforementioned actions. • Provide data on the number of H-2A petition beneficiaries nationwide and by state that are -continued on next page