For companies with a global workforce, the task of handling immigration and visa requirements for their employees can quickly become overwhelming. Especially for those whose main role is not global mobility or who are just starting out. Choosing the right global mobility solution for your needs is the first step towards creating a better global mobility program.
Typically, the choice often comes down to one of three options - doing it in-house, hiring am immigration lawyer or law firm, or contracting a global mobility software provider.
In this post, we will compare the pros and cons of each option.
Handling Global Mobility In-House
Handling global mobility in-house may seem like a cost-effective solution. However, unless you are only handling a few cases a year, or have enough volume to justify having a dedicated global mobility professional on staff, asking your staff to split their time between day-to-day tasks and global mobility needs can quickly become a time-consuming and complex task.
Companies that handle mobility in-house often have to allocate significant resources to research immigration policies, handle visa applications, and manage the entire relocation process. For small to mid-sized companies, this can take up valuable time and resources that could be better spent on other areas of the business. For larger, enterprise companies, there is often enough volume to justify this expense.
Additionally, asking staff who are not global mobility experts to assist others with the visa process leads to a high chance of creating errors that could be costly and time consuming.
Bottom line: If your company has the resources to hire dedicated experts in global mobility, this can be a great option for you. If not, it usually ends up being more hassle than it’s worth.
Hiring an Immigration Lawyer
Hiring an immigration lawyer can be a good option for companies that need specific legal advice and assistance with the immigration process. You’ll receive high quality advice on how to approach each case as well as assistance navigating the entire process.
However, immigration lawyers can quickly become an expensive option, and often come with additional fees for services such as document preparation and submission. Many customers have complained about being given an estimate for a case, which quickly doubles in price once the realities of the case become known.
Additionally, immigration lawyers are typically focused on the legal requirements of global mobility and may not have a comprehensive understanding of the entire relocation process, including logistics and cultural adaptation that provide extra value to your employees.
Bottom line: Immigration lawyers are a good option for companies who are only looking to relocate a few employees per year to a specific country.
Contracting a Global Mobility Software Provider
Global mobility software companies offer a comprehensive solution for global mobility that covers the entire process, from immigration and visa requirements to logistics and cultural adaptation.
Service providers, such as Localyze, make it easy for companies to manage their global teams by combining the power of an all-in-one platform with a team of global mobility experts and partners. They have extensive expertise and experience in handling global mobility cases, and can ensure that the process is efficient, streamlined, and stress-free for your employees.
Global mobility software providers typically offer a cost-effective, flat fee solution, regardless of the complexities of the case, making them more affordable than immigration lawyers and less time-consuming than in-house options.
Bottom line: If your company handles more than five mobility cases per year, and needs them handled in a timely manner, for a known price, a global mobility software provider such as Localyze is the best solution for your needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right global mobility provider for your needs is essential for companies with a global workforce. While handling global mobility in-house or hiring an immigration lawyer may seem like a cost-effective solution, the expertise and technology offered by software companies makes them the preferred option for those looking to ensure an efficient, streamlined, and stress-free process for their employees. Book a demo with one of our experts to learn more about Localyze.