Is Your Business Hiring Foreign Workers? Why You Need An Immigration Lawyer
Posted on: 12 December 2015
If your business is looking to hire skilled workers from other countries, you may think that the process is quite similar to what occurs when you take on domestic employees. However, there is a difference, and it's important that your company adhere to the right regulations. That's why it's so important for you to work with an immigration lawyer when hiring foreign workers. Use this information to learn more about why you must have an immigration lawyer on your side when you need qualified overseas workers.
Immigration Lawyers Keep You Out Of Hot Water
One of the most compelling reasons why you should consult with an immigration attorney before hiring foreign workers is because it is a key way for you to keep your company out of hot water. There could be stiff penalties to pay if you go about the process incorrectly, and your business will be left to take the hit.
The organization responsible for ensuring that the employees who work in the United States are authorized is Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE.) They focus their efforts on ensuring that the documents submitted by each person looking to be an employee in the US has indeed gone through the proper channels so that they can be accounted for.
If you hire a foreign employee who turns out to be illegitimate, you could be fined financially and may even face prison time. That's why it is crucial for you to hire an immigration attorney who can double check the I-9's and cross reference the social security numbers of any foreign workers to make sure that they are legitimate and that the person has been cleared to work in the states.
Immigration Lawyers Come To Your Defense
Another reason why it is so helpful to have an immigration lawyer on your side is because they can develop a persuasive defense if it is determined that there are illegal workers on your team. Their knowledge of laws and legal expertise may be the very thing that keeps you out of jail.
It is entirely possible for an individual to create false paperwork that seems entirely real. You may hire them under the presumption that they are legal, but you won't be able to use the, "I didn't know," defense if it's determined that the worker is illegal.
Your immigration lawyer will do everything in their power to craft a legally-sound defense so you can retain everything you have worked so hard to build.
For more information, contact David Borts Law Office or a similar firm.
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