3 important steps for hiring a foreign employee

As your business grows, you may start looking across national borders for employees. While this is a natural consideration in this increasingly global market, you might have several concerns, especially in the current political climate. How do you make sure you follow all the rules and find the right person to work for your company?

Immigration and business visas are complex, and it can be difficult to figure out what you need to do. Below you will find the most important things you can do to build your workforce with international employees.

1. Start now

There are plenty of complicated procedures to go through when hiring a foreign worker. You will not be able to get your candidate in the country within a few days. In fact, it can take months or years. Start planning now and keep this reality in mind.

2. Choose which visa you will petition for

There are a lot of visas that may apply, and you must determine which one is best for the employee you are looking to hire. For example, do you want to petition for an H-1B visa, which allows you to sponsor foreign talent that lasts for three years? Or do you want an H-2B visa that allows foreign workers to get a temporary position within your company? Consider all these immigration programs and choose the appropriate one.

3. Get a Foreign Labor Certification

You will also need to get a Foreign Labor Certification from the United States Department of Labor. According to the DOL, this certification exists to ensure that admitting a foreign worker will not negatively impact the opportunities of American workers.

There are a lot more steps involved in finding and hiring a qualified international worker, but these are three of the most pertinent. If you plan ahead and get a clear understanding of the visas and certifications you need, you can get much closer to getting the right employee for the job.