Cape Cod businesses are facing staffing challenges this summer as delays in processing J-1 seasonal worker visas disrupt the usual influx of international students who help meet the region’s high demand for labor. The delays have been attributed to several factors, including increased scrutiny of visa applicants, staffing shortages at U.S. embassies, and the prioritization of other visa categories related to major international events.

David Troutman, owner of Scargo, a restaurant in Dennis, has experienced difficulties securing the four international college students he usually employs each summer through the Department of State’s BridgeUSA J-1 visa program. As of mid-season, he has only received two workers, with the others facing interviews scheduled for August or later, too late to meet summer demands. Troutman has relied on this program for three decades and described this year as the most challenging for timely visa approvals.

Nearly 5,000 J-1 students typically come to Cape Cod to fill roles such as dishwashing, food preparation, and housekeeping for the area's hospitality sector, which supports over two million visitors each summer. Steve Simas, New England director of InterExchange, an organization that facilitates J-1 placements, noted that roughly 20 percent of applicants his group assisted have encountered interview delays this year. He indicated that such issues were previously uncommon in his 18 years in the field and linked the current challenges to changes in federal policies.

Among the factors contributing to the delays, U.S. embassies reportedly conduct more thorough vetting, including social media reviews, and face staff reductions of about 15 percent implemented last year. Representatives including Bill Keating, a Democrat representing Cape Cod, have raised concerns about the understaffed embassies and their impact on seasonal businesses. In a March letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Keating and 16 members of Congress urged for increased embassy staffing to expedite visa processing. They emphasized the importance of college students under the summer work travel program in filling jobs that would otherwise remain vacant.

The State Department has acknowledged scheduling interviews as quickly as possible while maintaining national security standards. Massachusetts ranks third nationally in the number of J-1 students, behind New York and California. Keith Pabian, founder of a national immigration law firm specializing in seasonal labor, reported many clients experiencing visa denials or delays of six to nine months, with some facing denial rates as high as 75 percent. Northeastern University economist Alicia Sasser Modestino warned that smaller businesses could be disproportionately affected, potentially leading to slower service, reduced earnings, and an overall negative visitor experience.

Despite these concerns, Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, expressed confidence that many businesses have adapted. Some larger resorts have even increased staffing by 15 to 20 percent to prepare for the World Cup and the America250 celebrations, major events expected to draw significant crowds. Still, local labor shortages persist, and Troutman has been tapping into international students already on the Cape looking for additional work, as well as seeking local hires, though local youth are reportedly scarce during peak season due to school schedules.

The J-1 program, designed to promote cultural exchange and diplomacy, allows participants to work multiple jobs, provided they meet hours agreed upon with sponsors. Proponents highlight the program’s role in fostering international friendships and mutual understanding. Troutman described strong personal connections developed through repeated seasons and cultural activities with the students. Among the participants is Ana Valeria Turcano, a 23-year-old law student from Moldova working her third J-1 summer in Harwich, who cites the experience as enriching both professionally and personally.

The combination of visa delays, increased vetting, and staffing shortages at embassies poses continuing challenges for Cape Cod’s seasonal industries, with some businesses adapting while others face potential impacts on operations and guest experiences as the summer progresses.