The law regarding travel expenses of H-2A workers in 2024 is very clear: employers must reimburse all reasonable costs from the communities of origin of the day laborers to the fields where they will carry out their tasks in the United States.
As explained to Enlace Latino NC sources of Legal Help for Farmworkers, reimbursement to H-2A workers in 2024 by employers must include:
- The cost of the H-2A visa (In 2024 it is $205 dollars)
- The cost of the most economical transportation from the place of recruitment to the first place where you will live in the United States
- Cost of accommodation needed while waiting for the consulate interview
- The cost of food consumed during the trip
- The cost of fees associated with border crossing
Likewise, the H-2A labor contract law states that the employer must provide the worker's return costs once the job is completed or if the worker is terminated without cause.
How much money must the H-2A employer reimburse for travel and food?
On the other hand, reimbursement to H-2A workers for travel and food is established by law.
Specifically, the minimum amount of daily meal per diem expenses for which a worker is entitled to reimbursement must be at least what the employer would charge to provide the worker with three meals per day during employment.
In 2024, the amount rises to $15,88 and under no circumstances can the employer reimburse workers less than that amount. Even if the worker does not present any receipt.
The maximum amount an employer must reimburse workers for travel-related daily subsistence is also set by law and is currently $59 per day. However, to access this sum the worker must prove the expenses by presenting receipts.
When it comes to transportation expenses, such as bus tickets, the law states that the employer must reimburse the H-2A worker “the most economical cost from the place of recruitment to the first place where he or she will live in USA".
Save receipts and take photos
Although to receive reimbursement for the $14 daily minimum established by law for each day of travel it is not necessary for the worker to present a receipt, the truth is that proof of expenses is essential to be able to claim sums greater than that amount.
Therefore, Becker recommends keeping all receipts for expenses incurred during the trip.
In the case of having to deliver the receipts to the employer, the specialist suggests taking photos of them with your cell phone so as not to lose the evidence in case the employer does not return them.
Likewise, the receipts are used to claim hotel costs while the worker waits for the interview at the consulate.
Learn more about Legal Help for Farm Workers in your area. Facebook
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And what we spend on food in Monterrey is also reimbursed since it is a lot and very expensive for lunch and food and the cheapest is 200 pesos and that does not cost one yenar and what one expects in Monterrey is a lot, it is almost a week i a lot is spent on food
And what you spend on food in Monterrey is also reimbursed