Businesses in Provincetown are facing hurdles in hiring summer employees due to visa denials affecting a significant portion of their workforce, predominantly comprised of international students.
Frank Vasello, owner of Relish, a bakery and sandwich shop in Provincetown, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Our season is fairly small and you kind of need to do a year’s worth of business in a fairly short window.”
The crux of the issue lies in the rejection of J-1 visas for international college students, who traditionally fill crucial roles within the hospitality sector during the busy summer months.
Vasello revealed that approximately two-thirds of his workforce consists of international students, yet this year, many of them are facing rejections accompanied by a directive to seek alternative placements outside of Provincetown.
“Some Bulgarian students are getting visas, and some aren’t, and so it seems very capricious,” Vasello remarked, reflecting on the inconsistency in visa approvals.
The situation echoes a prior incident from last summer, wherein several international students were deported following an investigation into their employment as pedicab drivers, a role prohibited under J-1 visa regulations.
While speaking with reporters, U.S. Representative Bill Keating acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that there are 80 job categories from which J-1 students are restricted. However, he refrained from speculating whether the incident from the previous summer influenced the current visa rejections.
Keating, fresh from a diplomatic visit to Ukraine, disclosed plans to meet with the State Department for a briefing on the visa denials. He emphasized the vital role of J-1 visa holders in supporting the tourism industry during peak seasons.
“It would be great to get actually specific reasoning as to why this is happening,” Vasello expressed, echoing the sentiments of many business owners grappling with the visa challenges in Provincetown.