Business immigration refers to the legal and administrative process that enables an individual to relocate from one country to another for business or work-related reasons. It involves obtaining the necessary visas and permits that allow foreign nationals to live and work in the host country.
Popular business work visa categories include:
- Investor visas
- Entrepreneur visas
- Skilled worker visas
- Intracompany transfer visa
- Tech or innovation visas
- Startup visas
- Freelance or self-employed visas
- Artist or creative professional visa
- Exchange visitor visa
Why is business immigration important?
Business immigration allows companies to hire foreign talent, bringing in unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that may not be readily available in the local labor market. It enables businesses to build diverse teams, fostering innovation and enhancing problem-solving abilities.
It also allows companies to strategically position their personnel across the globe, supporting business expansion and global market penetration. It facilitates the transfer of knowledge and skills across borders, enhancing the overall productivity and performance of the business.
What are the challenges in business immigration?
Common business immigration issues include:
- Navigating complex immigration laws
- Visa delays
- Lack of transparency in visa processing
- Integrating foreign workers into the local environment
- Cultural differences
- Language barriers
These challenges require careful planning, effective communication, and ongoing support for foreign employees and their family members.
Deel’s global HR platform comes with a built-in visa and immigration service. Immigration experts navigate immigration laws on your behalf, can hire and sponsor your foreign workers for accelerated visa processing, and provide applicants with access to a personal dashboard where they can track their application status on a granular level. Experts are always on hand should you or the worker have any questions or concerns.
What are the potential legal and compliance issues in business immigration? Potential legal and compliance issues in business immigration include the following:
- Non-compliance with business immigration laws, such as employing foreign nationals without the necessary visas or work permits
- Failure to meet visa conditions
- Non-compliance with labor laws
- Inadequate record-keeping
Businesses must comply with all immigration requirements, maintain accurate records, and regularly review their immigration policies and processes to avoid penalties and legal repercussions.
When you create an employment contract through Deel or onboard a new worker, the platform prompts you or the worker to upload the necessary compliance documentation to ensure work authorization. If the worker doesn’t have authorization or the documents aren’t valid, you’ll have the opportunity to check the candidate’s visa eligibility and initiate the visa application process.
Once approved, you can continue with the contract creation and onboarding process. Deel’s contract workflow guides you through each aspect of the contract, providing helpful insights and suggestions per country requirements. In addition, every contract you create is vetted by local legal experts and updated quarterly so you remain compliant.
When you’re happy with your contract, you can review and sign and then invite the worker to review and sign via their dashboard.
See also: HR Compliance: How Can Startups Use HR Automation Tools
How can businesses improve their business immigration processes?
Businesses can improve their business immigration processes by developing a comprehensive immigration process, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, and employing the services of experienced immigration attorneys or consultants. They can also invest in technology to streamline the immigration process, improve record-keeping, and ensure timely application and renewal of visas and work permits.
Deel’s global HR platform streamlines the business immigration process. Via the platform, you can:
- Check a candidate’s visa eligibility prior to creating an employment contract
- Have our EOR service hire and sponsor your international workers’ visa
- Start the visa application process
- View granular application status updates via the visa tracker
- Get an overview of the company’s mobility activities via the immigration tab
- Get visa expiry reminders
- Process visa renewals and transfers
- Provide visa application support for dependents
See also: Employee Visa Application Guide for Enterprises
How does business immigration work in the US?
Business immigration in the USA is a complex process that enables foreign individuals and entrepreneurs to come to the US to invest, manage a business, or work professionally for a US employer.
The most common US visa categories for business immigration include the following:
- E-2 visa for investors
- L-1 intracompany transferee visa
- H-1B visa for specialty occupations
- EB-5 immigrant investor visa
Some individuals may use their business visas as a stepping stone to obtain US permanent residency (a green card). This allows you to live and work in the US indefinitely as a US citizen.
Support your employee in obtaining an employment-based work permit in the United States with this guide by Deel.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes and should not be treated as legal or tax advice.
