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As markets have expanded and opened
throughout the world, global mobility is critical to a company’s
success. Whether your organization has offices and/or customers
outside the United States, Jackson & Hertogs recognizes that you
require global immigration services for the international
relocation and movement of your employees to and from all parts
of the world. We will advise, consult and work with you to plan
and facilitate all aspects of obtaining visitor visas, entry
clearance, work authorization and permanent residence for your
employees to countries around the world. We provide a single
point of contact for global immigration services.
We partner with foreign law firms and
immigration service providers throughout the world to provide
quality service and seamless movement of your personnel for
international relocations and business trips. We structure our
services flexibly in response to your needs. We will liaise and
work directly with your U.S. offices and/or we will provide
advice and services to your organization’s affiliate in the
target country and keep you apprised of the case status. We also
will liaise directly with employees who need visas for
international business travel or work authorization for
international relocation.
Jackson & Hertogs employs a web-based system that provides secure worldwide
access, online document management and 24/7 access. We can
adjust the level of access to our case management system
according to an individual’s level of authorization. HRs may be
authorized to monitor case status and/or to initiate new cases
through the web. Employees may complete questionnaires online
and upload copies of documents assured that their personal data
remains safe. Our case management system can create reports to
track your global immigration cases by country, process and
expiration date. We create specific country processes with the
list of required documents and interim work-flow steps. These
work-flow steps are visible to you 24/7.
Our Global Practice is led by Kirsten
Anderson, Esq., who can be reached by e-mail at
kanderson@jackson-hertogs.com or by telephone at +1 415-992-7635
during business hours (Pacific
Time).
Global Work Authorization
Like the United States, most countries
have laws, regulations and rules regarding work and residence
authorization for foreigners entering their labor markets.
Jackson & Hertogs provides your organization with a single point
of contact to navigate through the foreign work authorization
application process. We manage the foreign work authorization
application process for you, apprising you of the required
documents and requirements, preparing the applications through
our foreign co-counsel or immigration service provider, and
arranging to have the applications filed with the appropriate
government authorities. Where possible, we also arrange the
collection of the work authorization documents for the employee.
Because some countries impose extensive document requirements,
and/or labor market tests that have long application processing
times, we encourage you to contact us well in advance to discuss
the feasibility and timing of work authorization in a particular
country. Please remember to consult tax and employment law
advisors about the ramifications of such transfers for all the
parties involved. For more information, please contact Kirsten
Anderson by e-mail at
kanderson@jackson-hertogs.com or by telephone at +1 415-992-7635
during business hours (Pacific Time).
Global Business Visitor Visas
Jackson & Hertogs advises and assists with
applications for visas for short term business trips to other
countries. The United States has agreements with many different
countries allowing U.S. citizens to enter those countries
without first obtaining a visa as part of the Visa Waiver
Program. Please see our Visa Waiver Program FAQ:
http://www.jackson-hertogs.com/jh/faq/1055.pdf for more
information. If a visa is not required, we can assist in
preparing any necessary documentation to support the
individual’s admission to the target country as a business
visitor. If a visa is required, we can assist the traveler with
the required visa application.
In determining whether a business visitor
visa or entry is appropriate, the common factors for all
visitors are that they are entering the foreign country
temporarily, they have a residence outside that country they
have no intention of abandoning, and that they will not work or
study in the other country. For most business visitor visas, the
list of permissible activities includes engaging in commercial
transactions not involving gainful employment in that country.
Acceptable business visitor activities generally include taking
sales orders or making purchases of inventory or supplies for a
foreign employer; negotiating contracts; consulting with
business associates; engaging in litigation; or participating in
scientific, educational, professional or business conventions or
conferences. Business visitors cannot receive a salary or
payment from any source in the country they are visiting other
than reimbursement for expenses accrued and should remain on
their home country’s payroll. For example, an individual
employed by a home country employer, entering another country to
consult on specifications for a project that will be carried out
in his or her home country, and receiving a salary from his or
her home country employer would most likely be an acceptable
business visitor. As long as the activity in the foreign country
principally benefits the home employer, and the actual work is
performed outside the foreign country, the employee generally
would be engaged in legitimate business visitor activities. If
you have questions about permissible business visitor activities
for a certain country, please contact us.
Global Business Visitor Visa Applications and
Admissions
Jackson & Hertogs assists with business
visitor visa applications for persons traveling outside their
home country by assisting with document preparation, and, when
desired and authorized by a foreign consulate, by submitting the
visa application to a foreign consulate. Early planning is
essential as document collection and visa processing may take
several weeks in certain cases. Although each country has its
own requirements for business visitor visa applications,
generally the following documents may be required for a business
visa application:
• Original signed applications form (some countries require
notarized signatures);
• Original passport (generally must be valid for at least 6
months beyond last day of business trip);
• Original green card / valid U.S. visa and I-94;
• 2 recent passport photos taken within the last 6 months;
• Original current bank statement;
• Original current pay slip from employer;
• Original letter from employer on letterhead confirming
employment and guaranteeing the applicant’s expenses for the
business trip;
• Letter from foreign company inviting applicant to visit the
country (some countries accept faxed invitation letter and some
require the original);
• Letter from insurance company verifying emergency medical
coverage outside home country;
• Flight itinerary and hotel reservation confirmation;
• Copy of current driver’s license with current address.
Temporary workers in the U.S. (i.e., non-U.S.
citizens residing in the U.S. in nonimmigrant visa status)
generally must have a valid U.S. visa in their passport when
applying for a visa to enter another country. Without this valid
U.S. visa, it is possible that a foreign Consulate may decline
to entertain the visa application or will require the
applicant’s original I-797 petition approval notice and evidence
of a visa interview appointment with a U.S. Consulate (1) in its
country during the proposed business trip, (2) in the
applicant’s home country, or (3) in another country (with
additional evidence of the applicant’s ability to enter that
country). |
