Avoiding Immigration Pitfalls in Cross-Company Collaboration

Aug 25, 2021 | Human Resources Services

Cross-organizational collaboration in the Life Sciences industry is a staple for breakthrough innovation and scaling product distribution.  Working together brings exciting opportunities to address and build new solutions that provide greater impact, reach, and shared profitability.

Successful collaboration was perhaps at its strongest during the development of Covid-19 vaccines. The challenges of the pandemic brought together experts from across the pharma industry, government, and academia. The collaborative efforts culminated in the development of therapies and diagnostics at a highly expedited pace. Without these global partnerships, timelines would have stretched, and success may have been more elusive.

From a staffing perspective, it is not uncommon for employees with specific skillsets to be temporarily contracted out to a partner company.  This can raise challenges, however, as current travel policies, visa conditions, and immigration restrictions can make that arrangement complicated for foreign-born workers.

Typically, foreign-born workers are authorized to perform a specific job for a specific employer – any roles outside of the visa parameters may require additional authorizations. To increase the flexibility and utility of the global workforce, Life Sciences leaders and HR professionals should know the options available to them.

Partnering and collaborating within the Life Sciences industry is essential for increased innovation; HR can and should empower that mission. At WR, we work with both HR professionals and foreign-born employees to help ensure that you, your company, and your employees find the right immigration solution to advance your goals. 

Subscribe to the WR Immigration Newsletters

Start the RFP Process

Join the Corporate Benchmarking Roundtable

Request an Attorney Consultation

Related Posts:

H-1B Cap Season: Employer Considerations in the Event of a Recession

By Miki Kawashima Matrician, Co-Managing Partner, WR Immigration Boston As fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B cap season begins, many employers are looking to how the current economic climate could affect their immigration plans. Here are a few considerations. For a complete overview, please see a recording of a November 17...

Department of State Announces H-1B Visa Renewal Pilot Program in the U.S.

The Department of State is launching a pilot program for domestic renewal of H-1B visas, offering a significant development for qualified applicants. The program, active from January 29 to April 1, 2024, allows eligible H-1B visa holders to renew their visas within the United States, a departure from the standard...