Seasonal jobs in the USA: parks, resorts and harvests on an H-2 or J-1 visa

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What seasonal jobs exist in the United States?

Agriculture provides the largest volume: picking citrus, berries, apples and vegetables, nursery work and tobacco. Outside farming, hotels, amusement parks, landscaping firms, seafood processors and ski resorts rely heavily on temporary staff every single year, often recruiting abroad.

Demand follows two main peaks. Summer, from May to September, covers coasts, lakes, national parks and theme parks. Winter, from December to April, covers ski resorts in the Rockies and New England as well as Florida's winter harvests.

Regions and seasonal calendar

Florida hires for citrus, strawberries and tomatoes from October to May. Georgia and North Carolina recruit in spring and summer for vegetables and tobacco, while Washington State picks apples and cherries from June to November.

California produces all year, with peaks for grapes, berries and leafy greens. Texas is also among the largest employers of H-2A workers, especially for livestock, irrigated crops and packing, followed by Georgia, Florida and Washington in official job listings.

For summer tourism, concessions in Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier hire from April to October. Alaska recruits for salmon fishing and processing from June to September, while Colorado, Utah and Vermont staff their ski resorts through the winter.

Who can work legally for a season?

US citizens and green card holders work freely. Everyone else needs a work visa: entering visa-free with ESTA or on a B-2 tourist visa rules out any paid work, however short or informal, including cash-in-hand jobs.

All seasonal visas depend on a US employer or sponsor. There is no general working holiday visa for Europeans, and a visitor cannot travel to the US to find a job and then change status on the spot without serious immigration consequences.

The H-2A visa for agriculture

The H-2A visa covers temporary or seasonal farm work and has no annual cap. The employer must obtain Department of Labor certification that no US workers are available, then get a petition approved by USCIS before workers apply.

Job orders must be filed 75 to 60 days before the date of need. Employers provide free housing to workers who cannot return home daily, reimburse travel and guarantee at least three-quarters of the hours offered in the contract.

The H-2B visa for non-farm work

The H-2B visa covers non-agricultural seasonal jobs: hotels, restaurants, landscaping, seafood processing, amusement parks and carnivals. It is capped at 66,000 visas per fiscal year, split into two halves of 33,000, with supplemental visas often released.

Caps are usually reached quickly, sometimes as soon as filing opens, so employers tend to recruit in countries with established pipelines. The visa is tied to one employer for the certified period of need and cannot be used for other jobs.

J-1 Summer Work Travel for students

The J-1 Summer Work Travel programme is for full-time students at universities outside the US who have completed at least one semester and speak functional English. It allows work during the summer university break, for up to four months.

Participants must go through a sponsor designated by the State Department, which helps place them in hotels, restaurants or parks. Students from Visa Waiver Program countries may sometimes travel without a pre-arranged job, depending on the sponsor.

Pay and working conditions

The federal minimum wage has been USD 7.25 an hour since 24 July 2009, but many states and cities set higher minimums. Employers must apply whichever rate is more favourable to the worker, federal or state.

H-2A workers receive at least the Adverse Effect Wage Rate set by state and occupation, usually well above the federal minimum. H-2B wages are based on the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area, as calculated by the Department of Labor.

Hours, housing and tips

Non-farm jobs require overtime at time and a half beyond 40 hours a week, unlike most farm jobs. Restaurants may pay a lower cash wage topped up by tips, within federal and state rules that vary from one location to another.

National parks and remote resorts often provide dormitory housing and meals, deducted from wages. Federal and state taxes are withheld at source, and workers should apply for a Social Security number soon after arriving in the country.

Steps to get a seasonal job

The process always starts with an employer or sponsor, several months before departure. The steps below summarise the usual path for an H-2 visa or a J-1 Summer Work Travel placement, with the main lead times to plan for.

1. Identify the right visa: H-2A for farm work, H-2B for non-farm work, J-1 for students.
2. Search certified job orders on SeasonalJobs.dol.gov or contact a designated J-1 sponsor.
3. Contact the employer named in the listing and obtain a written job offer.
4. Wait for Department of Labor certification and USCIS approval of the petition.
5. Complete the DS-160 form and pay the consular fee.
6. Attend the visa interview with your contract, passport and sponsor documents.
7. On arrival, apply for a Social Security number and check your first payslip.

Costs, documents and pay at a glance

This table summarises what to prepare and the main pay benchmarks. Consular fees and H-2 reference wages change regularly, so exact amounts should be checked on official sites before committing to a contract or booking travel.

Mistakes and scams to avoid

Recruitment fraud often targets applicants under time pressure. H-2 employers are not allowed to charge workers recruitment fees, and legitimate offers can be traced to a certified job order or a designated sponsor. The following situations should lead to refusal.

• Paying a middleman who promises a guaranteed H-2B visa despite the annual cap.
• Travelling on ESTA hoping to find an employer and change status in the US.
• Accepting an offer that appears in no certification and comes from no designated sponsor.
• Signing a contract without knowing the hourly wage, housing and deductions.
• Handing your passport to an employer or recruiter.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the doubts international applicants raise most often. US immigration rules change frequently; the Department of Labor, USCIS and the State Department remain the reference sources before any decision, signature or payment.

Can a European citizen get an H-2B visa?

Yes, many European countries, including France, are on the list of nationalities eligible for H-2A and H-2B. In practice, you need an employer willing to run the whole process and a slot under the annual cap, which is hard without contacts.

Can I work in a national park without a work visa?

No. National park concessions are private companies subject to the same immigration rules. A foreign worker needs a J-1 Summer Work Travel visa, an H-2B or another status that authorises employment; volunteering in exchange for housing is also regulated.

How long does an H-2A or H-2B visa last?

The visa covers the certified period, usually from a few months up to one year. Extensions are possible with a new employer or new need, but total time in H-2 status cannot exceed three years without a prolonged stay outside the country.

Is J-1 Summer Work Travel open to recent graduates?

No. Applicants must be enrolled full time and continuing their studies during the programme. Recent graduates can look at other J-1 categories such as Intern or Trainee, which have different eligibility rules and require a training plan.