Foreign Labor Certification - Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning

Foreign Labor Certification for Agricultural and non-Agricultural Employers

The purpose of these certification programs is to ensure that hiring seasonal or temporary foreign workers does not negatively affect the job opportunities, wages, or working conditions of U.S. workers.

If you anticipate a shortage of U.S. workers for temporary or seasonal work, you may be eligible to participate in one of these federal programs:

• H-2A - Temporary or seasonal agricultural employment
• H-2B - Temporary or seasonal non-agricultural employment

These programs allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers temporarily when domestic workers are unavailable.

H-2A Program Information for Employers

To hire H-2A workers, employers must:

1. Register with the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG).

   Create a FLAG account and submit Form ETA-790A, along with all required attachments. You must submit a completed job order no more than 75 calendar days and no fewer than 60 calendar days before your first date of need (20 CFR § 655.121(b)). Written instructions and video tutorials are available to assist with filing the ETA-790.

2. Create an active Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) account.

   Employers must establish a MWE account before a job order can be posted. To register an account, you must:

   1. Register your business with Maryland Business Express (MBE).
   2. Be in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
   
   
3. Work with the Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) Unit.

   The FLC unit will review your ETA-790A application and create a compliant H-2A job order in MWE. If corrections are needed, the FLC Unit will issue a Notice of Deficiency (NOD). Your ETA-790A must comply with H-2A requirements, including wage offers, job duties, subsistence rates, and transportation plans.

4. Complete the required housing inspection.

   Once a job order is submitted through FLAG, the FLC unit will contact you to schedule an inspection of any housing provided for foreign workers. Because the inspection must be completed at least 30 days before workers occupy the housing, employers should begin the process as early as possible.

5. Schedule a pre-inspection, if needed.

   If you are unsure whether housing will meet federal regulatory requirements – particularly if it is new to the H-2A program – we strongly recommend scheduling a voluntary pre-inspection before submitting your FLAG application. Please contact Norton Pereira, Ross Weiner, or Elena Chicu for assistance.

Housing Inspection Standards

Housing inspections are conducted using applicable federal standards:

• Housing built on or before April 3, 1980, is inspected under the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Housing Regulations.
• Housing built after April 3, 1980, or additions made to older housing, are inspected under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Housing Regulations.

When evaluating housing, the FLC Unit also applies applicable OSHA requirements and all relevant state and local health and safety laws and regulations.

After Your Application Is Reviewed

The U.S. Department of Labor’s National Processing Center (NPC) conducts the final review of your job order.

Once you receive a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) from NPC, you may begin filing H-2A visa petitions through USCIS using the new Form I-129H2A.

See I-129H2A instructions on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

Beginning in 2026, the USCIS implemented a streamlined H-2A visa application process. When submitting Form I-129H2A, be sure to:

• File for “unnamed” beneficiaries
• Use an organizational USCIS account and not a personal account.

H-2B Program Information for Employers

Please note: The H-2B program is a quota system and not everyone that gets certified will be able to receive visas.

To hire H-2B workers, employers must:

1. Register with the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG).

   Create a FLAG account to begin the H-2B application process.

2. Obtain a Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD).

   Submit Form ETA-9141 to obtain a Prevailing Wage Determination at least 60 calendar days before it is needed for your FLAG job order.

3. Submit your H-2B job order through FLAG.

   File your job order 75 to 90 days before your anticipated date of need. Written instructions for submitting an H-2B application through FLAG are available, along with additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor.

4. Create a Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) account and job order.

   Maryland uses a self-service system that requires employers or their agents to create an account in the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE). After registering with both FLAG and MWE, you must create a corresponding job order in MWE.

   Once the job order has been created, leave it in “On Hold” status. The FLC unit will review and activate the job order after the U.S. Department of Labor issues a Notice of Acceptance (NOA). For instructions on how to create a job order please email Norton Pereira or Ross Weiner.

5. Respond to requests for corrections, if needed.

   After you file Form ETA-790 with the U.S. Department of Labor, the FLC staff may contact you if corrections or additional information are needed for your job order.

Additional Resources

• Instructions for creating a MWE job order are available by contacting Norton Pereira or Ross Weiner by email.
• Review the H-2B Job Order Requirements before submitting your application.

How to File a Complaint / Cómo presentar una queja

Complaints Filed with the State of Maryland / Quejas presentadas directamente ante el estado de Maryland

Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) Unit Complaint Procedures

The Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) Unit administers complaints involving the H-2A and H-2B Employment Services programs in accordance with 20 CFR Part 658, Subpart E, and as required by 20 CFR 655.185.

If a complaint is filed—or if the FLC Unit identifies an apparent violation involving H-2A or H-2B Employment Services regulations—the complaint will be processed through Maryland’s Employment Services complaint system.

For assistance, contact the FLC unit by emailing Norton Pereira or Ross Weiner, or Elena Chicu for the Eastern Shore.

Procedimientos de la Unidad de Certificación de Trabajo Extranjero (FLC)

La Unidad de Certificación de Trabajo Extranjero (FLC) utilizará el sistema de quejas de los Servicios de Empleo (ES) del estado—de conformidad con la norma 20 CFR Parte 658, Subparte E, y según lo requerido por la norma 20 CFR 655.185—siempre que se presente una queja o que la FLC detecte una posible infracción relacionada con las normativas de los Servicios de Empleo para los programas H-2A o H-2B.

Puede comunicarse con la unidad FLC enviando un correo electrónico a Norton Pereira o Ross Weiner, o bien a Elena Chicu para la zona de Eastern Shore.

Referral of Complaints

The FLC Unit refers complaints and apparent violations to the appropriate federal agency, as required by law.

U.S. Department of Justice
The FLC Unit will refer any complaint or apparent violation alleging that an employer:

• Discouraged an eligible U.S. worker from applying;
• Failed to hire an eligible U.S. worker;
• Discharged or otherwise discriminated against an eligible U.S. worker; or
• Engaged in related discriminatory practices,

to the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section in addition to any activity, investigation, and/or enforcement action taken by the state agency. The FLC Unit will also provide a copy of the referral to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Certifying Officer (CO) at [email protected].

U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
The FLC Unit will refer any complaint, report, or apparent violation to the appropriate office of the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division and will provide a copy of the referral to the U.S. DOL Certifying Officer at [email protected] involving obligations under:

• 8 U.S.C. 1184(c) and 1188: Federal laws and regulations establish the requirements for employers participating in the H-2A and H-2B temporary worker programs, including application procedures, worker protections, labor standards, compliance requirements, and enforcement provisions.
• 20 CFR Part 655, Subparts A and B:  Regulations governing the H-2A and H-2B labor certification process, including employer eligibility, recruitment requirements, labor standards, and protections for U.S. and foreign workers.
• 29 CFR Parts 501 and 503: Regulations governing employer compliance and enforcement for the H-2A and H-2B programs, including worker protections, recordkeeping requirements, investigations, penalties, and remedies for violations.

These laws and regulations are designed to make sure that employers who hire temporary foreign workers:

• Follow a fair hiring process.
• Try to hire available U.S. workers first.
• Pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions.
• Treat workers fairly and legally.
• Face penalties if they violate the rules.

Complaints Referred to the U.S. DOL Certifying Officer
Any H-2A complaint that cannot be resolved informally at the local level, as described in 20 CFR 658.411, and any H-2B complaint—including allegations of fraud or misrepresentation—will be referred to the U.S. DOL Certifying Officer at [email protected] for appropriate handling and referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency, when applicable.

Wage and Hour Complaints
If your complaint involves unpaid wages, overtime, or wages you believe have been unlawfully withheld, the Division of Workforce Development will refer your complaint to Maryland’s Wage and Hour Department, or you may visit Maryland’s Wage and Hour Department webpage for additional information. You may also download a complaint form directly from that page.

Remisión de quejas

La Unidad FLC remitirá las quejas y presuntas infracciones a la agencia federal correspondiente, según lo exige la ley.

Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos
La Unidad FLC remitirá cualquier queja o violación aparente declarando a un empleador:

• Disuadió a un trabajador estadounidense elegible de presentar una solicitud;
• No contrató a un trabajador estadounidense elegible;
• Despidio o discrimino de cualquier forma contra un trabajador estadounidense elegible; o
• Involucro en prácticas discriminatorias relacionadas,

involucrando en prácticas discriminatorias relacionadas, al Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos, División de Derechos Civiles, Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados, además de cualquier actividad, investigación y/o acción de cumplimiento tomada por la agencia estatal. La Unidad FLC también proporcionará una copia de la remisión al Oficial Certificador (CO) del Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos (USDOL) en [email protected].

Unidad de Salarios y Horas del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.
La Unidad FLC remitirá cualquier queja, informe o presunta infracción a la oficina correspondiente de la División de Horas y Salarios del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU. (U.S. DOL) y proporcionará una copia de dicha remisión al Funcionario Certificador del U.S. DOL en [email protected], en relación con las obligaciones derivadas de:

• 8 U.S.C. 1184(c) y 1188: Las leyes y regulaciones federales establecen los requisitos para los empleadores que participan en los programas de trabajadores temporales H-2A y H-2B, incluidos los procedimientos de solicitud, las protecciones para los trabajadores, las normas laborales, los requisitos de cumplimiento y las disposiciones de aplicación.
• 20 CFR Part 655, Subparts A y B: Normativa que regula el proceso de certificación laboral H-2A y H-2B, incluidos los criterios de elegibilidad de los empleadores, los requisitos de contratación, las normas laborales y las protecciones para los trabajadores estadounidenses y extranjeros.
• 29 CFR Parts 501 y 503: Normativa que regula el cumplimiento por parte de los empleadores y la aplicación de las normas de los programas H-2A y H-2B, incluidas las protecciones para los trabajadores, los requisitos de mantenimiento de registros, las investigaciones, las sanciones y los recursos ante infracciones.

Estas leyes y normativas están diseñadas para garantizar que los empleadores que contratan a trabajadores extranjeros temporales:

• Siga un proceso de contratación justo.
• Intente contratar primero a trabajadores estadounidenses disponibles.
• Pague salarios justos y proporcione condiciones de trabajo seguras.
• Tratar a los (las) trabajadores (trabajadoras) de manera justa y legal.
• Enfrentarse a sanciones si infringen las normas.

Quejas remitidas al funcionario certificador del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.
Cualquier queja y/o presunta infracción relacionada con las normativas H-2A—que no se resuelva de manera informal a nivel local, según lo descrito en 20 CFR 658.411—y con las normativas H-2B (incluyendo los casos que impliquen acusaciones de fraude o declaraciones falsas), se remitirá al Oficial Certificador (CO) del Departamento de Trabajo (DOL) a través de las direcciones [email protected] (Programa H-2A) o [email protected] (Programa H-2B) para su tramitación y posterior derivación a las autoridades competentes encargadas de hacer cumplir la ley.

Quejas sobre salarios y horas trabajadas
Si su reclamación se refiere a problemas para cobrar el salario o las horas extras, o si considera que su salario ha sido retenido ilegalmente, puede encontrar más información en la página web del Departamento de Salarios y Horas de Maryland. También puede descargar un formulario de reclamación en español directamente desde este enlace.

Complaints Filed Directly with the U.S. Department of Labor / Quejas presentadas directamente ante el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.

• How to File a Complaint: procedures and filing requirements.
• Cómo presentar una queja: procedimientos y requisitos.
• Download the current official Complaint/Apparent Violation Form.
• Descargue el formulario oficial vigente de queja o presunta infracción.

Important Workers Rights and Protections Resources / Derechos y protecciones importantes para los trabajadores

Access worker rights resources provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.

Recursos sobre los derechos de los trabajadores proporcionados por la División de Horas y Salarios del Departamento de Trabajo.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
It is illegal to discriminate against or harass someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), age (40 and older), disability, or genetic information. Employers are accountable for providing a work environment that is free from harassment and other kinds of discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Comisión para la Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo (EEOC)
Es ilegal discriminar o acosar a una persona por motivos de raza, color, religión, origen nacional, o sexo (incluidos el embarazo, la condición de persona transgénero y la orientación sexual), la edad (40 años o más). Los empleadores son responsables de proporcionar un entorno laboral libre de acoso y de otras formas de discriminación. La Comisión para la Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo de los Estados Unidos (EEOC) hace cumplir las leyes federales que prohíben la discriminación laboral.

U.S. Department of Justice, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section
Information about the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b is available from the U.S. Department of Justice. The law prohibits citizenship status discrimination, national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), and retaliation or intimidation.

Departamento de Justicia, Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados
Información sobre la disposición contra la discriminación de la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de ciudadanía y origen nacional en la contratación, el despido, o el reclutamiento o la recomendación a cambio de una remuneración; las prácticas documentales injustas durante el proceso de verificación de la elegibilidad para el empleo (generalmente, el Formulario I-9 y E-Verify); y las represalias o la intimidación.

National Human Trafficking Center Hotline
Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.

La Línea directa del Centro Nacional sobre la Trata de Personas
La trata de personas ocurre cuando un tratante utiliza la fuerza, el fraude o la coacción para controlar a otra persona con el fin de involucrarla en actos sexuales o de exigirle trabajo o servicios en contra de su voluntad.

• More Information for Agricultural employers
• Información importante para Empleadores y Trabajadores Agrícolas en español

Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or need technical assistance, please contact:

Rural Services Coordinator
Norton Pereira
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 443-845-8276

For assistance with the H-2A or H-2B programs, you may also contact Ross Weiner or Elena Chicu.

Información de contacto
Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes, o si necesita asistencia técnica, por favor comuníquese con:

Coordinador de Servicios Rurales
Norton Pereira
Correo electrónico: [email protected]
Teléfono: 443-845-8276