How Employers Can Avoid These 4 Common Immigration Mistakes

There are several options for Florida employers who want to hire foreign nationals but understanding all those options and the process for bringing a foreign worker to the U.S. can prove daunting for most companies. Having the guidance of an experienced business immigration attorney is key to your success in navigating the federal government’s immigration process.

There are four common immigration mistakes that employers often make that can be avoided with assistance from your attorney, including:

Starting the application process too late.

Regardless of what type of work visa you are applying for, gathering the proper documentation and communicating with the foreign national usually takes more time than most employers realize. Once you have identified a candidate, you need to begin the visa application process immediately.

Missing filing deadlines.

Several work visas have precise deadlines as well as quota limits. One of the most popular work visas — the H-1B visa — has a quota of 65,000 for the general category and 20,000 for the advance degree category. This year, that quota was filled in less than five days! Plan to submit a work visa application in advance of any required deadline.

Insufficient supporting documentation.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service requires adequate, specified documentation that must be submitted with each work visa application. This information can include a candidate’s qualifications and skills, salary information, job information and more. This documentation should also be reviewed prior to submission by your immigration attorney to ensure all USCIS requirements are being met.

Failing to complete or sign the application.

Even small mistakes like forgetting to sign the application or leaving a section blank can invalidate the application and require you to start all over, delaying employment for the foreign national you hoped to have on board sooner rather than later. Again, have your immigration lawyer look everything over prior to submission.