A bipartisan group of 12 lawmakers in Michigan has voiced their opposition to the proposed increase in filing fees for H-2A and H-2B visa applications by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS has suggested raising the cost of H-2A petition fees from $460 to $1,090, while H-2B filing fees for named beneficiaries would increase from $460 to $1,080, and for unnamed beneficiaries from $460 to $580.
The proposed fee increases could exacerbate the mounting costs that Michigan farmers are already grappling with. Labor accounts for almost 40% of total production costs on some farms, and this year, Michigan's minimum wage guest workers will have to be paid $17.34 per hour, a 12.8% increase. According to MFB national legislative counsel, the proposed fee increases, coupled with the new rule from the Department of Labor, would increase costs for farmers and restrict job opportunities for Americans.
The proposed DHS rule would also establish a new $600 fee on several other work visas, including H-2A and H-2B, to fund the government's asylum program for people seeking shelter in the U.S. The lawmakers argue that farmers should not be required to pay for programs unrelated to agriculture, and the costs of any asylum program should be appropriated through Congress and paid from the Treasury. In their letter to the DHS, the lawmakers requested the agency to reconsider the proposed fee increases and collaborate with them to enhance visa services for Michigan businesses.
The lawmakers in Michigan have united to oppose the DHS's proposed increase in filing fees for H-2A and H-2B visa applications, citing the adverse impact it could have on farmers and small businesses.
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Categories: Michigan, Business, Government & Policy