When you run a business, you want to hire employees that are the best and the brightest. And sometimes, the best candidate for the job is a person that is from another country rather than here in the United States. If you have found a job candidate that is a perfect fit for your company and has a specialized skill set or talent, but they are citizens of another nation, you may find yourself wondering what you can or should do to ensure that you are able to hire the person best suited for the job. Get to know some of the steps to take in this situation and how you can help your future employee get to the United States and to work as soon as possible. 

If They Are Already Residing in the U.S., Work Visas Will Have to Be Updated

Oftentimes, when a person comes to the United States, whether it is to go to school or work, their visa is quite specific. If they are here for school, the visa is for a specific school and period of time and for a job, it is for work with a specific company and in a specific job with that company. 

As such, if the person you wish to hire already lives in the United States and works for a different company, you will need to have them update their work visa status with the United States government. If your job candidate has an H1B visa, they can apply to transfer their visa between companies. The process is fairly straightforward, but this transfer needs to be approved by immigration before they can begin working with your company. 

If They Have Not Yet Come to the United States, It Will Take Longer

Getting a work visa to move to the United States can take quite a while. However, if the person you wish to hire is the best for the position and there is not other candidate that could even come close, you may be willing to wait for this potential employee from another country. 

The exact amount of time it takes to get a visa to work in the United States can vary based on the number of applications submitted, the country the candidate is coming from, the current political climate, any pending immigration reforms, and a variety of other factors. Overall, the process can take anywhere from 8 months up to a year or two.

As such, be sure you do not need someone to fill the position you are hiring for immediately if you want to hire a candidate that has yet to apply for a work visa. Keep in mind as well that the work visa process will go quicker and more smoothly if your new hire works with an immigration attorney in the United States to oversee the process. 

With these factors in mind, you can be sure that you make the best decision for your business and know what to expect when you hire a job candidate from another country.