3 employer considerations for global immigration services

Expanding your business internationally can be exciting, but it also means dealing with complex immigration laws. To manage global mobility effectively, employers need to understand visa costs, conduct thorough visa assessments, and decide whether to use Employer of Record (EOR) services or leverage their own entity for sponsorship.

As you weigh utilizing global immigration services, here are a few factors to consider when preparing to work with your foreign employees.

Managing visa costs is a major part of global mobility. These costs can vary, so it's important to budget carefully. Here are a few of the general costs that come with global immigration services.

Assessment fees: These are the initial costs to evaluate which type of immigration visa your employee needs and if they are eligible.

Government fees: These are the official charges from the host country's government for processing immigration visas.

Miscellaneous costs: This includes fees for translation services, couriers, job advertisements and canceling existing visas.

New visa insurance: Often mandatory, this covers healthcare and other liabilities for new visas.

Managing these costs also involves continuous document reviews by specialists to ensure compliance with immigration law. Tracking visa expiration dates helps avoid legal issues, and regular meetings and reports keep you informed about the immigration process.

Reach out to a global business advisor to determine the exact costs of your unique circumstances.

Before starting the visa application process, a thorough visa assessment is crucial. This ensures you choose the right immigration visa type and confirm the employee’s eligibility.

The assessment begins with a preliminary check, which is mandatory for every visa case. During this stage, preliminary data and documents are collected. Specialists then review this information, which can take about a week.

This review provides valuable feedback and identifies potential issues before they become problematic. Once the assessment is complete and feedback is shared, the immigration process officially begins.

A thorough assessment streamlines the immigration process, reducing delays and ensuring compliance with local immigration laws.

When sponsoring work permits, employers must decide between using an Employer of Record (EOR) or leveraging their own entity. Each option has unique benefits and implications.

An EOR can sponsor the work permit on behalf of the employer, simplifying the process. This is especially useful in countries where direct sponsorship by a foreign entity is complex or not allowed. However, it's crucial to verify that EOR sponsorship is permitted in the specific country. An advantage of using an EOR is that they handle work permit cancellation upon termination of employment, easing the administrative burden.

On the other hand, leveraging your own entity allows the business to sponsor work permits directly. This provides more control and flexibility, as the entity operates in the employer's name and can support employees in any country. However, this route also means that the employer is responsible for all aspects of the work permit process, from application and renewal to termination and cancellation. While this responsibility can be substantial, global immigration services can still support these requirements.

Choosing between an EOR and leveraging an entity depends on the specific needs of the business, the host country's regulations, and the level of control the employer wants over the immigration process.

Navigating the complexities of global immigration services is challenging, but understanding these three considerations can simplify the process. Managing visa costs, conducting thorough visa assessments, and deciding between EOR and entity sponsorship are crucial steps that impact the success of your global business.

At Safeguard Global, we offer comprehensive support and advisory services to help businesses manage their global mobility needs efficiently. Whether you're dealing with visa costs, navigating the immigration process, or determining the best sponsorship route, our immigration team is here to help.

Our world immigration services include helping you understand the various types of immigration visas, managing the complexities of immigration law and providing continuous support throughout the immigration process.

We also offer assistance with permanent resident applications and work authorizations, ensuring that your highly skilled employees can work legally in their new country. With multiple points of contact and a dedicated team, Safeguard Global ensures that your immigration needs are met promptly and professionally.