There are many reasons that an organization may want to bring in skilled talent from abroad. Perhaps they need the kind of specialized education that is in peak demand in the United States. Engineers, chemists and research scientists are among the highly-skilled and educated professionals that can be difficult to locate domestically. There simply aren’t enough available professionals for all of the jobs that companies must fill.
International talent can be an ideal solution, but bringing professionals to the United States from another country can be both expensive and time-consuming. How can a business improve its chances of success when looking to hire international talent?
1. Look at the company’s employee roster first
Outside hires can be particularly challenging for businesses to manage while also applying for a visa. Organizations never know if a worker might back out of a job offer at the last moment or end up being a bad fit for the company culture. Pursuing an internal transfer from a foreign office or subsidiary can ensure a better fit and can give a company access to less competitive L visas.
2. Be patient when dealing with lottery systems
Sometimes, if a company wants a visa that is in high demand, like an H-1B visa, it will need to submit an application to a lottery system, which means the visas are essentially random. Organizations that want to bring specific workers to the United States with an H-1B visa will typically need to plan for the possibility of applying multiple years in a row before achieving success.
3. Recognize and address the needs of the workers
It isn’t always the actual visa application process that derails an international hire but rather the human elements that can complicate the situation. Individual workers have family members that they want to bring with them may have concerns about how to cover the costs involved in relocating to the United States.
Companies seeking to recruit international talent should be transparent about not just pay and benefits but also about the type of support they offer during the relocation process. From language classes to local tours, there are ways to help people acclimate after moving. Companies that want to attract top talent typically need to offer those workers not just the pay but also the support they need to achieve successive company.
When organizations address both the practical and personal factors that often complicate international hiring, they may have an easier time connecting with the best talent on the market. Identifying the right employment visa programs and seeking legal guidance during the recruiting process can help those companies that are hoping to hire skilled workers from other countries.
