Launching Q1 2025 Benchmarking Collective Survey | The Business Immigration Benchmark (038)

Feb 12, 2025 | Immigration Updates

By Laura Bloniarz

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In this week’s episode of The Business Immigration Benchmark, I sat down with WR’s Community Manager, Sydney Bridger, SHRM-SCP, to explore the latest trends in global mobility and how teams are adapting to the new administration. We discussed the early themes emerging from our 2025 Q1 Benchmarking Survey (still fielding responses, so reach out if you’d like to participate), including communication strategies, managing foreign national anxiety, and updating policies to stay compliant in a rapidly changing environment.

For global mobility professionals navigating uncertainty, this episode provides actionable insights into how technology, compliance, and change management are shaping industry priorities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Adapting to the New Administration:

With the Trump administration’s return, global mobility teams are facing renewed compliance challenges. The survey reveals that many organizations are already making process updates, anticipating policy shifts, and refining their communication strategies to keep employees informed.

2. Leveraging Technology & Compliance Strategies:

Companies are increasingly relying on technology to streamline immigration processes, audit compliance, and improve data management. Ensuring accurate reporting systems and proactively updating records will be critical in 2025.

3. Managing Foreign National Anxiety:

Uncertainty has led to heightened anxiety among foreign nationals. Employers are addressing this through clear communication channels—whether via town halls, newsletters, or intranet updates—to provide timely, accurate information on policy changes and travel restrictions.

4. Updating Global Mobility Policies:

Teams are revisiting their policies on international business travel, remote work permissions, and green card sponsorship timelines to ensure they align with evolving regulations. The benchmarking survey highlights a growing focus on early green card initiation and risk mitigation strategies.

My Parting Thoughts

As we step into 2025, staying proactive in compliance, leveraging technology, and maintaining clear communication will be key to managing global mobility programs effectively. If you haven’t already, consider joining our Immigration Benchmarking Collective on LinkedIn for access to industry insights and best practices.

If you have insights or strategies you’d like to share, feel free to DM me on LinkedIn or submit a question here!

Related Posts:

Understanding DUIs and Their Impact on U.S. Immigration and Visas: 5 Key Points

1. DUIs and Immigration Admissibility:In U.S. immigration, DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) are crucial factors. These offenses, viewed as potential health concerns, can greatly affect your immigration status. It’s important to note that even DUIs reduced to charges like reckless driving are closely examined, especially if they’re recent (within the last five years). 2. DOS’ Authority on Visa Revocation for DUI:The Department of State (DOS) has the power to revoke visas based on DUI/DWI offenses. This applies particularly to cases where a recent DUI arrest or conviction (within the past five years) is discovered. This policy, however, is generally not applicable if the arrest has been previously addressed in a prior visa application (and medical exam). 3. Importance of Form I-693 and Honest Disclosure:The Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or Form I-693, is essential in the U.S. immigration process. Applicants must fully disclose all DUI/DWI incidents, as even cases up to ten years old are evaluated during the medical examination. 4. Re-Examination for Inconsistent DUI/DWI Reports:If there are discrepancies in reporting DUI/DWI incidents, immigration procedures may require a re-examination. This is to ensure accurate evaluation of any alcohol-related harmful behavior, reflecting a growing […]

Corporate & Counsel:

The State of Global Mobility in 2025, an Academic Perspective By Sheridan Abraham and Ceridwen “Ceri” Koski Disclaimer: These are individual comments/points of view from experts in the field based on their professional experiences which do not necessarily reflect companies’ official stands on certain topics or matters. This newsletter series delves into the challenges and innovations shaping global mobility and immigration program management. My goal is to learn directly from in-house legal teams, global mobility experts and immigration managers about how to better serve their programs. By fostering stronger partnerships, we can improve the immigration experience for employees, businesses, and stakeholders alike. Global mobility is undergoing a seismic shift in response to changing policy. Restrictive government measures have caused employers to take a cautious approach. Employers are conservatively navigating government restrictions while balancing office returns with employees’ desire for flexibility. Companies leverage technologies to retain top performers while exercising cost containment. Amid this evolution, in-house teams, working closely with outside immigration counsel, play a pivotal role in balancing compliance with business objectives—ensuring programs run smoothly while supporting strategic workforce initiatives. That is why, with great pleasure, I’m excited to offer the academic yet pragmatic point of view of Sheridan Abraham—an […]