Avoiding Provider Visa Traps

Global delivery models require significant personal interaction between onshore and offshore buyer and service provider personnel. From CIOs who mandate specific onshore-to-offshore ratios to business leaders who need experienced resources to manage transitions and drive continuous improvement, staff in the outsourcing industry are traveling more.

Although the travelers can be from either India or the U.S., they are almost universally Indian. As it’s become increasingly costly and difficult to secure appropriate visas, offshore service providers have been tempted to apply for inappropriate visas. Although service providers have traditionally not had strong incentives to rigorously follow visa regulations, increased scrutiny has increased the risk to buyers and service providers. When employing foreign personnel, buyers and service providers need to ensure that foreign personnel who work on-site at buyer locations in the U.S. have the appropriate visas for the roles they are performing.