By: Tamara Molino | CRP, GMS

August 18, 2020

Mexico immigration alternatives offer additional routes for US employers looking to hire foreign nationals. The Trump Administration’s Proclamation 10014 limits the entry of foreign nationals under several classes of immigration visas. The concept of “nearshoring” lets employers leverage a creative solution that may fulfill several business needs. Many countries near the US have less restrictions on their immigration policies than Proclamation 10014.

What are Mexico Immigration Alternatives?

GMS spoke with Michelle LePage, Founder/Managing Partner and Senior Global Administration Advisor at Global Mobility Partners, LLC. Michelle agreed to share her industry knowledge and immigration expertise on Mexico immigration alternatives.

Recap of the Proclamation 10014 Situation

The Trump Administration originally unveiled Proclamation 10014 on April 22, 2020. The proclamation has been referred to as “Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak.” On June 22, the Administration determined that this proclamation is subject to continuance through December 31, 2020. These proclamations result in limiting the entry of foreign nationals under several classes of immigration visas, including the following:

  • H-1B Specialty Occupations
  • H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
  • H-4 Dependent Spouses and Unmarried Children Under 21
  • J-1 Exchange Visitors
  • L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
  • L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge

Many technology industry companies  use these immigration visas widely, including industry leaders Apple, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, Facebook, and Twitter. Amazon Corporate LLC has filed 4,481 labor condition applications for H-1B visas from fiscal year 2017 to 2019, ranking at number 21 among all visa sponsors.

According to the Trump Administration’s intentions, Proclamation 10014 should drive these technology industry companies and many others to hire workers who are already living in the US. Still, many highly qualified workers are currently located in other countries, and companies may want to hire them domestically. Mexico immigration alternatives might provide another avenue for hiring highly skilled foreign nationals.

What are Mexico Immigration Alternatives?

US employers who want to hire foreign national employees may be able to use Mexico immigration alternatives. These alternatives will bring/keep the employee closer to the US than perhaps their country of origin. For employers that can meet the requisite criteria, a number of benefits may accrue, including:

  • Ease of business travel to/from Mexico
  • Lower costs and less time for business travel
  • Living in Mexico will increase foreign national employees’ experience and knowledge of other customs and cultures of North America
  • Mexico is the center of Latin America’s technology revolution
  • Startup GDL is a nonprofit organization working to make Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city, a leading technology hub

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) creates new opportunities for beneficial trade and economic growth throughout North America. USMCA is effective as of July 1, 2020. The agreement modernizes the 25-year-old NAFTA trade agreement between the three countries. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) administers the USMCA. As the second largest individual country trading partner to the US, Mexico already offers many strategic advantages including strong and established business relationships.

What are the Key Criteria?

At Global Mobility Partners, LLC, we have created a number of helpful documents that describe the requirements for various countries. For Mexico, the primary immigration category for temporary expatriates is known as a Temporary Resident Visa for Remunerated Activities (TRV). TRVs are for foreign nationals who are transferred to Mexico for a temporary assignment.

Our Mexico Work Authorization Summary Sheet notes three key criteria:

  • Assignment must be at least 180 days in duration
  • There must be a local sponsoring Mexican company holding current registration with the National Immigration Institute
  • The Mexican company must pay a portion of the employee’s salary

Mexico immigration alternatives such as the TRV are initially valid for 1 year, but may be extended:

  • Up to 4 years
  • Employers should initiate the application to extend temporary work status at least 6 months prior to expiration

Note: Our recommendation to start the extension application nearly coincides with the start date of the temporary assignment! Processing times may be lengthy and subject to change due to unforeseeable political situations.

What Should US Employers do About Mexico Immigration Alternatives?

The specific requirements for Mexico immigration alternatives require a thoughtful approach. We recommend US employers contact us before taking action. Important points for employers to note include the fact that spouses are not work authorized. However, non-married partners are allowed to accompany the employee, as are same-sex partners and children up to 17 years of age.

Employers should be sure the foreign nationals they seek to hire are aware of these and other specific requirements. Consultation with an expert from Global Mobility Partners, LLC is highly recommended. As a result, this will help US employers develop appropriate and effective solutions for Mexico immigration alternatives.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients learn about important issues such as visa and immigration options for their organization. Our mobility consulting team can help your company understand if it can leverage Mexico immigration alternatives with the assistance of the experts at Global Mobility Partners, LLC.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a “.com.” The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. As a result, GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation® technology platform.

Contact our experts online to learn more about Mexico immigration alternatives, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

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Vice President, Global Services Tammy is responsible for GMS’ regional operations teams in North and Latin America, EMEA, and APAC. Tammy provides over 14 years of leadership experience in the areas of international assignment management, global network management, global consulting and business development. Her experience in global mobility includes new client implementations, policy and compliance development, global compensation and billing, vendor management, case management, and real estate home sale/purchase programs. Tammy travels extensively and studied abroad in Switzerland, Chile, Peru, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

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