San Francisco, CA immigration attorney Michelle Malison discusses why it’s important for businesses to have a well-crafted and thorough immigration policy. She explains that decisions regarding immigration policy and sponsorship matters may sometimes be made on an ad hoc basis. However, as companies grow and scale, having an immigration policy in place becomes highly beneficial. This ensures that everyone is aligned on how the employer handles immigration sponsorship matters. Moreover, we have observed that employers with an established immigration policy can act more decisively when it comes to foreign national employees or candidates who require sponsorship.

Additionally, an immigration policy becomes relevant when a foreign national employee or candidate seeks clarity on when the employer will sponsor them for the Green Card or permanent residence process. It can serve as a crucial tool for recruitment and retention. In summary, having an immigration policy in place is essential as it provides consistency, predictability, and efficiency. It eliminates the need to start immigration-related conversations from scratch every time a foreign national employee or candidate is involved, fostering an active rather than reactive approach.