Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act” or the “HIRE Act”.
H–2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act
A BILL
To streamline the issuance of nonimmigrant temporary work visas, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Streamline process for H–2A and H–2B for employers
H–2A— Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(j) Duration
“(1) Certification—A certification issued under this section shall be in effect for a period of 3 years.
“(2) Petition—A petition filed under this section shall be valid for a period of 3 years.”
H–2B— Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(12)
“(A) A petition filed on behalf of an alien to temporarily perform labor or services in the United States under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) shall be valid for a period of 3 years.
“(B) A certification issued for the temporary employment of aliens performing labor or services under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) shall be in effect for a period of 3 years.”
Sec. 3 Streamline process for H–2A/H–2B returning workers
H–2A— Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(k) Waiver of interview—An in-person interview may be waived with respect to an alien who is seeking to renew status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) not more than 4 years after the expiration of such status.”
H–2B— Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(13) An in-person interview may be waived with respect to an alien who is seeking to renew status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) not more than 4 years after the expiration of such status.”
Sec. 4 Enhance Job Transparency
The Secretary of Labor, at the request of an employer, shall publish, on the website of the Department of Labor, information on the amount of seasons during which such employer expects to have seasonal employment available, not to exceed 3 seasons.