Employers based in the Aiken Times publication area submitted 2,221 H-2A petitions during 2024, according to data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-2A Employer Data Hub.
All petitions submitted were approved.
The H-2A visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs when enough domestic workers are unavailable. Employers must demonstrate a short-term need and that hiring foreign workers will not negatively affect U.S. workers’ wages or working conditions. These jobs must first be offered to U.S. workers, and both domestic and H-2A workers must receive at least the highest of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) or other wage benchmarks.
For comparison, the average approval rate for H-2A petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98.8%, slightly higher than 2023’s 98.4%.
The local employers with the most temporary agricultural visa requests during 2024 included South Carolina Growers Association, which filed 932 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, and Titan Fruit and Vegetable Company with 363 petitions and an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the publication area saw a 16% decrease in the number of H-2A petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
Due to manual data entry and the use of paper forms by applicants or petitioners, occasional discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details may be found in the H-2A Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the data used in this article. Despite these potential issues, USCIS works to ensure accuracy.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2,221 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Growers Association | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 932 | 100% | 0% |
| Titan Fruit and Vegetable Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 363 | 100% | 0% |
| Carolina Farms and Harvesting, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 299 | 100% | 0% |
| Dixie Belle, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 263 | 100% | 0% |
| Jerrold a Watson and Sons | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 133 | 100% | 0% |
| Cotton Hope Orchards, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 108 | 100% | 0% |
| Costa Layman, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 80 | 100% | 0% |
| Dixie Belle Peaches 5W, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 30 | 100% | 0% |
| Berry Plantation, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Pait Show Horses | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2 | 100% | 0% |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The source data can be found here.
