Overview

Occasionally, a company requires an intermittent employee to complete a certain project or goal. A foreign national on an H-1B or L-1 visa may be employed in the US for a short period of time. . Regardless of how long a particular employee stays or how often they come in and out of the United States, an employee in the United States must comply with I-9 requirements, , even if they are paid by a foreign employer. More details on the I-9 process can be found here

An employer must ensure, at a minimum, that Section 2 of Form I-9 is completed within three days of the employee commencing employment. Sometimes an overseas employee may enter the US for the limited duration of a project and leave US without completing the I-9 Form. In such a situation, the employee must complete the Form I-9 upon their next arrival in the United States. However, this does not always cure the violation; the employer may find themselves in trouble with E-Verify standards.

A common misconception by employers is that rules/laws regarding worksite compliance do not apply to foreign employees. This is not true. Although for an employee on a foreign payroll the missing Form I-9 may not come up in an I-9 audit, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement may find it in their own audit; or if company tax records are scrutinized.

On a separate note, complying with the IRS tax requirements for both the employer and employee can be a very complicated process, requiring an analysis of the employee’s primary residence, the days spent in the United States, current income tax guidelines, the employee’s income, and other factors. It is imperative to check with a CPA.

Having a foreign employee work in the US requires the assistance of an expert immigration attorney, irrespective of the duration of employment in the US. Contact our office if you need assistance with hiring a foreign employee, I-9 compliance, or any other immigration issues.