December 4, 2015
The Migrant Education Program: Opportunities for H-2 Workers
This is a blog written by Luis Eduardo Cruz Hernández, Mexico Representative for the U.S. Migrant Education Program. Read more to learn about opportunities to continue your studies while you are working in the United States with an H-2A or H-2B visa.
Mi name is Luis Eduardo Cruz Hernández. I am 23 years old and have the privilege of sharing my experience with the Migrant Education Program with you, given that I was one of the beneficiaries of the program when I traveled to the state of Indiana with an H-2A visa, under a 6-month contract.
When we arrived at the campsite of the company where we were going to work, educators from the program came to meet us to talk to us about the services they offered free of charge. I signed up for the program and began to attend English classes. They also helped me with transportation when I needed it, and gave me the educational assistance that I needed. All of the people involved in the Program are wonderful, very humble and with a great spirit for helping the people who need it most.
Currently I work for them in Mexico as a representative, tasked with identifying people who need the program’s services.
This is a program of the U.S. Federal Government designed to support the education of farmworkers’ children when they travel to the United States.
The program includes workers under the age of 22 with H-2A and H-2B visas.
The following are requirements to qualify for the program:
- To be under the age of 22
- Not to have graduated from High School in the United States or obtained a GED
- To have moved to work in any state within the United States
- To have moved from one school district to another for the purpose of doing agricultural work, including animal processing (livestock, birds, fish, etc.)
If you would like more information about the program you can call 1-800-234-8848 in the United States, or email [email protected] or [email protected].