Business Visitors: The End Of Business As Usual

In a striking contrast from managing business trips and short-term assignments as "business as usual", global organizations are now facing increased risks for non-compliance with immigration, taxation and labor regulations. This article analyzes current immigration-related legislative developments and policy trends with respect to the most widely used category of visa worldwide – business travelers – in various jurisdictions, all of them putting an end to the "business as usual" assumptions. It addresses the new, heavier burden that the "genuine" business visitors bear when applying for entry into foreign countries and analyzes the risks inherent to the use and abuse of this classification across jurisdictions. Finally, it suggests a number of Global Mobility Management (GMM) strategies to mitigate these risks and to avoid potential liabilities.