How to Get Visa Sponsorship for a Software Engineer

Hiring talented software engineers with niche skills can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, especially when it involves hiring and relocating.

Most enterprise businesses struggle with software engineer visa sponsorship—and not without reason. It’s a complex and time-consuming process. Sometimes, companies lack guidance, and other times, they lack the necessary legal infrastructure.

To help you understand the process better, we’ll walk you through the steps to get visa sponsorship for software engineers. We’ll also discuss how Deel’s EOR-sponsored visas can help you quickly initiate the visa sponsorship and procurement process.

Let’s begin.

Step 1: Understand visa options

You must understand visa requirements and options in your target countries. This step is crucial for a smooth hiring process and for staying on the right side of immigration laws.

Country-specific visas

Each country has its own visa options for skilled workers, such as:

• H-1B visa in the US: Ideal for specialty occupations, including software engineering. Requires a bachelor’s degree or over 12 years of experience in a related field
• Tier 2 (General) visa in the UK: For skilled workers with a job offer from a UK employer holding a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. Must meet specific salary and skill level criteria
• The temporary skill shortage (TSS) in Australia: This visa helps employers fill labor shortages with skilled workers. It is available in short-term, medium-term, and labor agreement streams

Step 2: Check visa eligibility criteria

Then, you need to get familiar with the eligibility criteria for each visa type. They often include:

• Educational requirements: Specific degrees or certifications relevant to the job
• Job titles: Only certain occupations qualify, so ensure the job title matches the visa requirements
• Salary thresholds: Minimum salary requirements must be met to qualify for the visa

Let’s break down the TSS visa process in Australia as an example.

For TSS visas, your company must be an approved business sponsor. If not, apply for Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS). Once approved, you can nominate the candidate for the TSS visa, ensuring the role meets salary and condition requirements aligned with Australian labor market standards.

Note that (1) the candidate must have the necessary skills, qualifications, and work experience for the role, and meet English language proficiency requirements; and (2) you must prove you have tested the labor market and couldn’t find a suitable Australian candidate.

Step 3: Assume your sponsorship responsibilities

Often, companies need to become registered sponsors to sponsor an employee or contractor visa legally. This requires following certain steps to comply with immigration laws in the destination country.

• With a legal entity: If your company has a legal entity in the destination country and meets all the specific requirements, you can apply to become a registered sponsor. This involves proving your business legitimacy, financial stability, and adherence to local labor laws
• Without a legal entity: If your company doesn’t have a legal entity in the destination country or can’t meet the requirements, you can use an Employer of Record (EOR) sponsor to hire and sponsor the worker on your behalf

The good news is Deel can help in both circumstances:

• If your company can be a sponsor: If your company meets the requirements to become a sponsor, Deel can assist with getting your sponsorship license and help you get the visa. All while ensuring compliance and efficiency
• If your company can't be a sponsor: If your company can’t become an official sponsor, Deel can step in with its EOR sponsorship model. Deel hires and sponsors the worker, handling all the visa application complexities. This way, you can bring in top talent without creating a legal entity in the destination country

Find out how payments technology company, Form3, grew its workforce by 20% within a year with Deel.

Step 4: Support the application process

You need to support candidates throughout the visa application process. The best way to do this is by providing comprehensive guidance and resources. Like this:

• Document preparation: Help candidates gather and organize all required documents
• Application guidance: Provide clear instructions and assistance in completing application forms
• Legal and compliance support: Ensure all legal requirements and compliance issues are addressed
• Dedicated assistance: Assign a dedicated mobility officer to assist candidates throughout the process

Let's take the H-1B Visa for the United States as an example. Here, support involves:

• Helping candidates file the Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
• Assisting in completing and submitting Form I-129 to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), ensuring all documentation of the candidate’s qualifications and job offer is included
• Providing ongoing compliance monitoring to ensure compliance with H-1B regulations and tracking the application status until approval

Step 5: Track the application

Next, you must actively monitor the visa application process. Authorities often ask for extra evidence, and quick responses are crucial to avoid delays. Regularly check the application status and follow up with the relevant authorities to ensure steady progress.

Keep a close eye on the application process to assist your workers. Authorities frequently request additional evidence, so be ready to help your worker provide the necessary information promptly to avoid delays.

Step 6: Support travel document procurement and relocation

Once the visa application is approved, the candidate might need to visit an embassy or consulate for visa stamping or get a residence permit. You can help by scheduling and preparing for these appointments and ensuring all necessary documents are ready.

Don’t forget to support them with travel arrangements and relocation logistics too.

Deel can speed up consular stamping appointments for US visas, cutting down wait times. Plus, we ‌provide access to discounted relocation services, covering housing, transportation, connectivity, finance, and even pet relocation (woof!).

Your new software engineer will enjoy a smooth transition, allowing them to focus on their new job instead of worrying about documentation and relocation.

Step 7: Ensure continued compliance with immigration laws

Remember, immigration laws change frequently. You must stay informed about any updates affecting your visa sponsorship plans.

Additionally, you should maintain accurate and up-to-date records for all sponsored employees. This includes visa statuses, work permits, and other relevant documents. Organized records mean you can quickly provide information during audits or inspections.

Also, monitor visa expiration dates closely. Proactively handle visa renewals or extensions to ensure your employees' work authorizations stay valid, preventing any disruptions to their employment and your business operations.

Discover how Revolut, a financial technology company, used Deel Immigration to streamline employee relocation.

Streamline hiring and visas with Deel Immigration

When it comes to visa sponsorship for a software engineer, Deel Immigration is your best bet. Deel’s global platform simplifies the process of hiring, sponsoring, and managing employees and contractors across multiple countries.

Using Deel Immigration as your EOR visa sponsor isn’t just convenient—often, it’s essential for global enterprise growth. This innovative approach lets businesses like yours hire and mobilize a global talent pool to gain a competitive edge.

Deel Immigration sponsors and supports your employee visa application in 35+ countries with one platform. We take care of visa sponsorship, application process, and compliance in a fraction of the time.

How Deel Immigration works

• Hiring process: Deel manages compliant hiring, contracts, and payroll, letting you focus on selecting top talent without administrative hassles
• Visa application: Deel meticulously handles visa applications, ensuring all documentation is accurate and submitted on time, crucial for approval
• Compliance: Deel ensures adherence to local labor laws and immigration regulations, reducing legal risks and providing peace of mind

Learn more about our visa and immigration services or book a 30-minute 1:1 session with an immigration expert to better understand our services.