The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification processes labor certification applications for employers seeking to bring foreign workers into the United States and grants certifications in cases where employers can demonstrate that there are not sufficient U.S. workers available, willing and qualified to perform the work at wages that meet or exceed the prevailing wage paid for the occupation in the area of intended employment.
The Department of Economic Opportunity works with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Foreign Labor Certification National Processing Center in Chicago to assist with the processing of temporary labor certifications to Florida employers in two program areas:
- H-2A Certification for Temporary Agricultural Workers
- H-2B Certification for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
H-2A Certification for Temporary Agricultural Workers
This program establishes a means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring non-immigrant foreign workers to the United States to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.
The Department of Economic Opportunity accepts and processes employer ETA 790 Agricultural and Food Processing Clearance Order applications and posts all H-2A job orders into the state’s job bank system. The department also conducts agricultural surveys of prevailing wages and practices and pre-occupancy inspections of employer owned housing.
For more information go to the Office of Foreign Labor Certification website.
H-2A Program Fact Sheet
H-2B Certification for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
This visa program permits employers to hire foreign workers to perform temporary non-agricultural services or labor on a one-time, seasonal, peak load, or intermittent basis.
The Department of Economic Opportunity does not receive or process applications for the H-2B program.
Employers must submit H-2B program applications to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, Chicago National Processing Center. See the mailing address below.
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Office of Foreign Labor Certification,
Chicago National Processing Center
536 South Clark Street, 9th floor
Chicago, Illinois 60605-1509
For more information, please see the Office of Foreign Labor Certification website or contact the Chicago National Processing Center by email at TLC.Chicago@dol.gov or by phone at (312) 886-8000.
Florida employers can post their job orders in the state’s Job Order System. Employers must notify the One-Stop Career Center in the area of intended employment when a job order is posted. The job order must state that it is filed in connection with a future application for H-2B workers. Upon requests from employers, the department posts job orders into the state’s job bank system in the area of intended employment for a period of no less than 10 full calendar days.