Fruit picking jobs in the USA are very popular among foreigners who are seeking visa sponsorship because of the numerous opportunities in that sector. If you are a foreign national who wants a fruit picking job in the US that comes with a sponsored visa, it is very important for you to know the kind of US visa that is available for a fruit picking job, your potential employer and the best places to find the jobs. And that’s what we’ll be showing you in this article.
There are many fruit picking jobs in the US that come with visa sponsorship, like grapes & strawberries picking in California, citrus picking in Florida, apple & cherry orchard picking in Washington, and apples & pears picking in Oregon’s, among others. So, you can apply for a fruit picking job with sponsored visas in any of these US states.
However, it is pertinent to note that the primary visa for seasonal agricultural workers in the U.S. is the H-2A visa. This means that if you are a foreigner who needs a sponsored visa fruit-picking job in the US, you should apply for an H-2A visa.
Visa Sponsorship for Fruit-Picking Jobs
The main US visa for foreign seasonal agricultural workers in the U.S. is the H-2A visa. It is designed specifically for temporary or seasonal agricultural employment in the US. This visa allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire foreign nationals to fill temporary agricultural jobs.
Interestingly, there are no formal educational qualifications for H-2A visas. So both skilled and unskilled foreigners who want fruit picking jobs in the US can apply for this kind of visa. However, you must be physically fit to access this kind of visa. This visa is for the short term and it may likely last for several months during the US harvest season. It is valid so long as the job contract has not been terminated. The H-2A visa is designed to provide housing, transportation to the worksite, and meals or cooking facilities for foreign workers.
H-2A Visa Application Process
Now that you know the visa type for fruit picking jobs in the USA, let’s look at how you can apply for it.
1. Secure a Fruit Picking Job Offer
The first thing that you should do when you want to apply for the H-2A visa is to get a fruit picking job first. What you should do is search for a valid job offer from a U.S. employer participating in the H-2A program. You can visit job boards for assistance.
2. Employer’s Initiates the Visa Process
At this stage, your employer will apply on your behalf to the U.S. Department of Labour to show that there are not enough U.S. workers available for the fruit picking job.
3. Visa Application
If the US Department of Labour approves your employer’s visa request, you can then proceed to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country to start your H-2A visa application.
4. Interview and Approval
After submitting your application to the US embassy or consulate in your region, you’ll be invited for an interview, where you’ll answer questions about your work history and your genuine intentions to return to your home country after your employment term ends
Top U.S. Regions or States for Fruit-Picking Jobs
There are certain US states that are widely known for fruit-picking jobs due to their agricultural engagement. So, when you want to apply for fruit picking jobs in the US that come with visa sponsorship opportunities, you should target those states because they offer sponsored H-2A visa opportunities to foreigners who are ready to relocate and work with them on a short-term basis. The states are
- California: Known for grapes, strawberries, and citrus fruits. California’s agricultural sector offers thousands of seasonal jobs to foreigners, especially in the Central Valley region.
- Florida: It is the leading citrus producer in the US. Florida has many fruit-picking jobs for international workers during the winter and early spring.
- Washington: It is known for apple and cherry orchards; Washington provides seasonal work for foreigners from spring to fall.
- Oregon: Known for producing berries, apples, and pears, Oregon’s farms have always had a high demand for foreign fruit pickers in the summer months.
- Michigan: Known for their cherry, apple and blueberry production. It is also a good destination for foreigners who need fruit picking jobs in the US with a sponsored visa.
How to Find Fruit Picking Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in the USA
There are different channels that you can use to find fruit picking job opportunities in the US that come with a sponsored visa. Some of the methods are:
1. Online Job Boards
One of the easiest ways to find a US-sponsored visa opportunity for a fruit picking job in the US is through online job boards. There are many popular websites like USAJobs, AgCareers, and SeasonalJobs, where you can easily find US job listings for seasonal agricultural positions, like fruit picking with H-2A visa sponsorship.
2. Recruitment Agencies
Another simple method that you can use to find fruit picking jobs in the US with visa sponsorship is through recruitment agencies. Some of the popular recruitment agencies in the US that can help you get fruit picking visa-sponsored opportunity are AGRI Placements International, Farm Labor Contractors Association (FLCA), MAS Labor, USA Farm Labor, Inc., Global Horizons Manpower, etc.
3. Farm Websites
The last method on our list that you can use to find fruit picking jobs in the US that come with sponsored visa opportunities is through the farm websites. Some of the farmwebsites that you can check are The FruitGuys, Stemilt Growers Gebbers Farms, Tuttle Orchards, etc.
Conclusion
Fruit-picking jobs in the USA provide a unique opportunity for foreigners to gain experience in the agricultural industry while also securing temporary work in the United States with visa sponsorship. With the H-2A visa, thousands of international workers can get seasonal fruit picking jobs in the US. So, you can start your application to secure a visa-sponsored fruit picking opportunity in the United States.
