Navigating the Aftermath: H-2A Visa Needs Post-Government Shutdown

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The U.S. federal government shutdown, which lasted a historic 43 days from October 1 to November 12, 2025, sent disruptive ripples across various sectors. For Florida companies, particularly those preparing for vital winter and spring planting and harvesting seasons, the H-2A visa program — a critical source of temporary agricultural workers — faced unprecedented delays and uncertainty.

To understand the specific impacts of the shutdown and what lies ahead as government operations resume, we reconnected with John Bedell, MBA, JD, of H Visa Solutions. Based in Lakeland, Florida, John and his team specialize in guiding companies through the intricate H-2A and H-2B visa application and worker facilitation process, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

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Interviewer: John, thanks for speaking with us again. The government shutdown, which lasted into mid-November, was a major concern. Can you start by describing the immediate impact it had on Florida companies trying to secure H-2A workers for their winter and spring needs?

John Bedell: It's good to be back. The shutdown was, frankly, quite disruptive. The 43-day stoppage, from October 1 to November 12, 2025, hit the application cycle at a crucial time. Our clients, primarily in agriculture, operate on tight, non-negotiable schedules dictated by crop cycles.

The most significant impact was that the Department of Labor (DOL) ceased all immigration-related functions because it relies on appropriated funds. This meant that the critical first step—filing for the Temporary Labor Certification—was completely halted. The Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system was suspended. Applications sat untouched, and new ones couldn't be filed for nearly a month and a half. This directly translated into delays for workers who should have been arriving for the start of the late fall and early winter harvests in Florida.

Interviewer: So, workers who were expected to arrive in late November or December might have been delayed, or even couldn't come at all for that critical period?

John Bedell: Exactly. For a citrus or vegetable grower here in Florida, planning their entire harvest around workers arriving, say, in late November or early December, that application delay is a catastrophe. The fruit doesn't wait; it continues to ripen, and if it's not picked in time, it falls and spoils. The DOL recognized this, which is why they announced temporary measures, such as automatically extending certain deadlines, but the fundamental problem was the cessation of all processing activities.

Interviewer: Beyond the immediate delays, what long-term or lingering effects are you seeing now that the government is fully reopened?

John Bedell: The biggest lingering effect is the backlog and the subsequent rush. Every application that should have been processed during those 43 days piled up. Now that the agencies are back open, they're faced with a massive queue of delayed petitions, plus the regular high-volume influx of applications for the major spring planting season.

This means that while they are processing applications again, the sheer volume is leading to longer-than-usual processing times for the foreseeable future. Employers who were affected are now competing with the regular cycle. This creates immense pressure on the DOL to clear the backlog and on USCIS, which is mostly fee-funded but still relies on DOL certification before it can process the I-129 petition.

Interviewer: That’s a crucial point about the backlog. For companies in Florida that either missed their window or are now trying to plan for their next workforce needs after the November shutdown was resolved, when is the next practical opportunity to navigate the H-2A visa application and approval process?

John Bedell: The core advice is now even more critical: early action is paramount.

For employers looking to secure H-2A workers for future seasons, especially those aiming for late Spring (April/May) or Summer 2026 arrivals, they should be initiating their applications immediately. The shutdown proved that relying on the minimum regulatory filing window of 60 to 45 days is extremely risky.

We are advising clients to target the earliest possible filing dates within that window and to ensure their paperwork is impeccable. For many operations, the next practical opportunity is right now—getting ahead of the queue for the Spring and Summer demand before the backlog compounds further. The industry has to treat every single regulatory deadline with a greater cushion of time than ever before to mitigate the risk of another disruptive event or the continuing effects of this one.

Interviewer: Thank you, John. This has been incredibly insightful and provides a clear roadmap for Florida growers dealing with the aftermath of the October and November 2025 shutdown. Your emphasis on early action and impeccable compliance is a vital takeaway.

John Bedell: My pleasure. We at H Visa Solutions are committed to helping Florida agriculture weather these administrative storms.

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We thank John Bedell, MBA, JD, of H Visa Solutions in Lakeland, Florida, for joining us and providing clarity on these challenging but crucial regulatory matters.

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H-Visa Solutions is a Service-Disabled Veteran and Minority-Owned Small Business that provides expert H-2A and H-2B visa consulting services throughout Florida and nationwide.

 

John Bedell, MBA, JD
President
Direct Line: 863.269.8053

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Call H-Visa Solutions at 863.644.4912 today to schedule a consultation about your company's H-2A or H-2B Work Visa needs.

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