
Countries / Territories
- 🌐
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
By: Janis M. Bailey
- Can my spouse work? Many countries around the world allow the spouse of a work permit holder to seek independent employment of their own. More countries do not. If the spouse is accustomed to working, or if the family’s finances depend upon the spouse normally working, this issue alone could prove the end of consideration for the assignment or move.
- Is my spouse legally considered my spouse? Many countries in the world will only allow legally married, opposite-sex couples to immigrate together. Civil partnerships will often not be deemed “marriages” for purposes of immigration, and moreover, same-sex couples continue to face legal discrimination in many parts of the world.
- Can my 21-year-old child come with me? Some countries will consider a 21-year old child to be a dependent able to accompany a work permit holder, but others will consider that same child to be an adult who must seek his or her own immigration permission separate from their parents.
- Will the work permit be ready in time for the school term start date? In many countries, it is nearly impossible to predict the exact timing of when permits will be issued with much accuracy. Although we can always provide general timeframes, any number of hurdles can block the way to a smooth approval (e.g. lack of government staffing, change in government, additional document/information requests, etc).
- Can the family be accompanied by our nanny? This issue has particularly arisen in my career when there is a widowed mother or father who has been asked to go on assignment and the children are accustomed to a nanny that has been with them from a young age. Many countries, however, make it very hard if not impossible to sponsor foreign nannies.
- Will my family be able to move at the same time as me? This is a question that so often does not get asked by assignees because the answer is assumed to be yes. However, there are a few countries in the world where the employee must arrive first before the family can join. This, as one might imagine, can cause quite a bit of stress in the family that must temporarily separate from each other.
Countries / Territories
- 🌐
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
Related contacts
Related offices
- Atlanta, GA
- Auckland
- Beijing
- Bengaluru
- Boston, MA
- Brisbane
- Brussels (Benelux)
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Dallas, TX
- Doha
- Dubai (DIFC)
- Frankfurt
- Hong Kong
- Houston, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Johannesburg
- Kochi
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Los Angeles, CA
- Matawan, NJ
- Melbourne
- Mexico City
- Nairobi
- New York, NY
- Perth
- Phoenix, AZ
- Rio de Janeiro
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose
- São Paulo
- Shanghai
- Sheffield
- Silicon Valley, CA
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Toronto
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Zurich
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Pittsburgh Managing Partner Alex Castrodale and Associate Adam Teets highlight the need for US employers to prepare for unannounced immigration compliance checks.

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