Donald Trump

Trump Organization Seeking Visas for Dozens of Foreign Workers at Florida Clubs

The filing came days after the administration announced it would offer an extra 15,000 temporary, seasonal work visas this budget year

The Trump Organization is asking the federal government to grant dozens of special visas to foreign nationals to work at two of the President Donald Trump's private clubs in Florida, including his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The company is seeking 35 waiters and waitresses at Mar-a-Lago along with 20 cooks and 15 maids. A listing is also posted for six cooks at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter. The jobs pay anywhere from $10.33 to $20.01 per hour. They run from Oct. 1 to May 31.

The requests filed Thursday for H-2B visas, which cover non-agricultural guest workers in seasonal industries like landscaping, fishing and resorts, have been made public on the Department of Labor's website.

The filing came days after the administration announced it would offer an extra 15,000 temporary, seasonal work visas this budget year.

The Department of Homeland Security caps the number of H2B visas at 66,000 a year. But after Congress effectively reduced the number of guest workers allowed in for the summer, it gave DHS the power to authorize more visas in May — an effort some small business owners in America say comes too late.

Local economies in New England and the Great Lakes with small round-year populations rely on the program fill seasonal jobs during the major the summer surge of business.

Some employers have complained that relief on the issue was coming too late into the season, given the two months it took DHS to take action on increasing the visa cap.

“There are still so many hotels and restaurants that have been impacted by this in a negative way,” Steve Hewins, president of the Maine Innkeepers Association, said after Monday's decision. “It’s still going to be weeks before any of the workers who are available can make it here.”

The process is lengthy and complex, noted Sam Bradford, the CFO of Mac’s Seafood on Cape Cod. Business owners have to mail in applications, which must then be reviewed and approved by DHS. Afterwards, the business must hire a candidate, submit paperwork, schedule an interview at the local embassy, and secure a plane ticket for the worker to come to the U.S.

DHS spokesman David Lapan blamed the delay on Congress, telling NBC News that the legislative body gave his department the authority to allow additional visas at least six months later than normal.

In Maine, the general manager of The Colony hotel in Kennebunkport said he may not even hire some H2B visa workers this year because they would only be arriving by summer's end.

NBC's Teo Armus contributed to this report.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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