Outsourcing of Immigration Services

Transcription

1 Outsourcing of Immigration Services September 24 RES Forum 24

2 RES Forum Survey on Outsourcing of Immigration Services We received 53 company responses to this survey examining RES member approaches to the outsourcing of immigration services. Key Findings Less than 6% of respondents manage all immigration matters in house, with 48% partly outsourcing and 46% fully outsourcing their immigration services Work permit, visa, and residence permit applications were all commonly outsourced among respondents Due to its complexities and the associated risks to the organisation, immigration services have commonly been outsourced amongst respondents for a long period of time (3% more than 6 years, and % more than years) 83% of respondents reported that HR was the responsible function within their organisation for authorising the outsourcing of immigration services The top three reasons for making the decision to outsource were to profit from the expertise of an external provider, to increase service quality and efficiency, and to reduce administration tasks 8% reported that they actually have profited from the expertise of the external provider, 57% have increased service quality and efficiency, and 49% have achieved a reduction in administration tasks Of the small number that do not currently outsource at all (less than % of the respondents), 8% of them are currently considering moving to an outsourced model Conclusions In this complex, ever changing area, organisations need to be increasingly aware of compliance and legal issues. Failing to apply for the appropriate work authorisations can have serious and far reaching consequences for both the employee in question and the organisation as a whole. Unlike for other areas of HR and global mobility services, where immigration is concerned, many organisations are unwilling to put their reputation at risk and as such appear to be outsourcing en masse. As always, please let us know if you have any questions (res.forum@yahoo.co.uk). RES Forum, September 24

3 Survey participants (53) AB Sugar ABB AGCO Corporation AMEC Atkins Barclays Beca Burberry Centrica CGI Dyson Electronic Arts Elia ERM Fonterra General Electric Grant Thornton Herbalife Herbert Smith Freehills Honeywell Imperial Tobacco Infineon ING Group Mayer Brown Merlin Entertainments Mondelez International NBC Universal Nestle NXP Semiconductors Old Mutual PetroCeltic Prudential Rabobank Red Bull Red Hat Rehau AG Rolls-Royce RWE Dea Sage Group SAP Sika Standard Chartered Bank Statoil Sun Life Tetra Pak Towers Watson Twinings Vestas Vodafone Volvo

4 Q How many employees does your organisation have globally? Answ ered: 53 Skipped: More than % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % More than 3.77% % % % 9.32% 6 Total 53 # Further information Date There are no responses. / 7

5 Q2 What is the total number of international transfers (all assignment types) that your organisation manages per year? (For temporary assignments such as expat/ long term assignments, include the number physically moving in each year) Answ ered: 53 Skipped: or less Unknow n % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % or less Unknown 5.66% 3.32% % 24.53% 3 3.2% % 5 3.2% 7.89% Total 53 # Further comments Date There are no responses. 2 / 7

6 Q3 What is your total population of employees currently on any form of active temporary assignment (i.e. expat, long term assignment etc?) Answ ered: 52 Skipped: or less Unknow n % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % or less Unknown 5.77% % % % 4 2.5% 3.46% % 4.92% Total 52 # Further comments Date There are no responses. 3 / 7

7 Q4 How long has your organisation been operating a formal international assignments programme? Answ ered: 53 Skipped: Less than 2 years 2 years 2 years 2 years or more Unsure % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Less than 2 years 2 years 2 years 2 years or more Unsure 5.66% % %.32% 6 3.2% 7 Total 53 # Further comments Date most likely >2years 6/2/24 2:2 AM 4 / 7

8 Q5 Is the provision of immigration support services outsourced in your organisation? Answ ered: 52 Skipped: No- all immigration... Yes- the prov ision of... Yes- the prov ision of... % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % No- all immigration services are handled in house (Please go to question 2) Yes- the provision of immigration services is PARTLY outsourced to an external provider (Please go to question 6) Yes- the provision of immigration services is FULLY outsourced to an external provider (Please go to question 6) 5.77% % % 24 Total 52 # Further comments Date differs from Country to country 6/9/24 5:29 AM 5 / 7

9 Q6 Which of the following immigration services do you outsource? Answ ered: 46 Skipped: 7 Managed in-house Outsourced to an external... Service not prov ided und... 6 / 7

10 Outsourced in some locatio... Unsure % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Work permit APPLICATION Work permit EXTENSION Visa APPLICATION Visa EXTENSION Residence permit APPLICATION Residence permit EXTENSION Delivery/ collection of documents to/ from authorities Other (please specify) Work permit APPLICATION Work permit EXTENSION Visa APPLICATION Visa EXTENSION Residence permit APPLICATION Residence permit EXTENSION Deliv ery/ collection of documents to/ from authorities Other (please specify) Total Respondents Managed in-house 37.5% 3 25.% 2 75.% % % % % 8 Outsourced to an external provider 93.75% % % % % % % % 32 Service not provided under company policy 66.67% % 3 Outsourced in some locations only 78.95% % % % % % % % 3 9 Unsure # Further comments Date We outsourced depending on the countries - in the UK we use PwC and in the rest of EMEA we use Fragomen however in APAC, we mostly manage the immigration process inhouse. 6/9/24 6:49 PM 2 Visa, work permits and residence permits are outsourced in all locations except Hong Kong and Singapore 6/9/24 9:22 AM 3 In NZ immigration services are not managed in-house as you have to be an accredited immigration advisor to provide this service. In some parts of our Asia companies, there is combination of in-house and outsourcing to an external provider. 6/5/24 :9 PM 4 -f.i. USA E visa application we manage in house 6/3/24 2:49 AM 5 Some locations manage in-house wheras other locations all activities are outsourced 6/2/24 :4 PM 6 Varies by country. The above represents Australia only 6/2/24 8:2 PM 7 / 7

11 7 Inhouse in Singapore, Malaysia and US. All other countries we use outsourced provider 6/2/24 :58 PM 8 It depends on the country: how strong / knowledgable is HR in the respective country in immigration matters. In some countries it is outsourced %, in some countries it is outsourced %. 6/2/24 8:45 AM 9 outsourced in the majority of locations 6/2/24 8:44 AM 8 / 7

12 Q7 How long have your immigration services been outsourced? Answ ered: 48 Skipped: 5-2 years 2-4 years 4-6 years 6 - years More than years Unsure % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % - 2 years 2-4 years 4-6 years 6 - years More than years Unsure 8.33% % 9 2.8% 3.25% 5.42% % 4 Total 48 # Further comments Date Several years, but not sure of exact timeframe. 6/23/24 2: PM 2 Only in very few countries and parts of the process 6/9/24 5:49 AM 3 We are currently moving to a fully outsourced model. 6/9/24 4:39 AM 9 / 7

13 Q8 Which department in your organisation authorised outsourcing of immigration services? Answ ered: 48 Skipped: 5 HR Procurement/ purchasing Senior Management Other (please specify) % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % HR Procurement/ purchasing Senior Management Other (please specify) 83.33% 4 4.7% 2 4.7% % 4 Total 48 # Further Comments Date It depends - Legal for our contract in the UK and HR as part of global mobility in other locations. 6/25/24 :53 AM 2 Legal department formally charged with selecting vendor, but subsequent immigration cases are then authorized by HR. 6/23/24 2: PM 3 & legal 6/9/24 7:52 AM 4 HR or Global Mobility. 6/5/24 :29 PM 5 Global mobility 6/3/24 2:49 AM 6 Legal 6/3/24 2: AM 7 Global Mobility 6/2/24 :29 AM 8 Done through a combination of HR, Legal and Procurement 6/2/24 9:8 AM / 7

14 Q9 Please rank the 3 most important factors which influenced your decision to outsource these services? Answ ered: 47 Skipped: To support w here there were insufficient staffing lev els To reduce internal headcount To increase cost transparency To reduce costs To increase flexibility To increase serv ice quality and efficiency To profit from the expertise of an external prov ider To reduce administrativ e tasks To allow employees who managed international assignments to concentrate on core competencies Other (please specify) Unsure- I was not inv olv ed in managing the outsourcing process at the outset Total Av erage Rating 8.5% 4.64% % 2 2.3% 6.38% % % % 2.56% 23.8% % % % 3 2.5% % 5.26% 2 2.5% % 2.5% 8 2.5% % 2 2.5% # Further comments Date To mitigate risks 6/3/24 2: AM 2 Compliance 6/3/24 :3 AM 3 Compliance 6/2/24 6:36 PM 4 To ensure global compliance and reduce risk to company 6/2/24 :58 PM 5 Additional level of risk and compliance 6/2/24 :6 AM / 7

15 Q Which of the following has your organisation achieved as a result of your decision to outsource these services? (Please tick all that apply) Answ ered: 47 Skipped: 6 Support where there w ere... Reduced internal... Increased cost transparency Reduced costs Increa... Increased serv ice qual... Profited from the expertis... Reduced administrati... Allow ed employees w h... Other (please specify) % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Support where there were insufficient staffing level Reduced internal headcount Increased cost transparency Reduced costs Increased flexibility Increased service quality and efficiency Profited from the expertise of an external provider Reduced administrative tasks Allowed employees who manage international assignments to concentrate on core competencies Other (please specify) 36.7% 7.64% 5.64% % % % % % 2 8.5% 4 Total Respondents: 47 # Further comments Date Ensure compliance with immigration laws 6/9/24 9:9 AM 2 These services are outsourced to enable efficient handling of immigration issues. 6/9/24 3:8 AM 3 Global consistency and ability to manage cross border issues with one supplier 6/7/24 8:5 AM 4 Unable to comment on cost advantages at the moment. 6/5/24 7:55 PM 5 Compliance 6/2/24 6:36 PM 2 / 7

16 Q Are you satisfied with the services that you receive from your external immigration provider? Answ ered: 49 Skipped: 4 Yes- extremely satisfied Yes- somew hat satisfied Neither satisfied no... No- somew hat dissatisfied No- extremely dissatisfied % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Yes- extremely satisfied Yes- somewhat satisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied No- somewhat dissatisfied No- extremely dissatisfied 34.69% 7 55.% % 8.6% 4 Total 49 # Please prov ide reasons for your satisfaction/ dissatisfaction if appropriate Date We use multiple vendors across jurisdictions, so satisfaction varies accordingly. 6/23/24 2: PM 2 We use the services of another law firm. They keep us abreast of changes. Ran mock audits for us and has representations in most of the locations where we operate. 6/9/24 9:22 AM 3 satisfaction differs per country 6/7/24 4:35 AM 4 sometimes they "beat around the bush" with legal jargo; pretty expensive and nickel and dime us; on the other hand they offer a once per week phone call included in our fees, which is helpful for knowledge sharing and not only managing via s 6/3/24 : AM 5 Not a global provider 6/3/24 2:57 AM 6 They are good at processing, but not at advice so we are having some issues. 6/2/24 2:3 PM 7 direct experience of UK applications only 6/2/24 8:44 AM 3 / 7

17 Q2 If you do not currently outsource immigration services, have you considered outsourcing these services in the past? Answ ered: 5 Skipped: 48 No- w e hav e not consider... Yes- w e hav e considered t... Yes- w e hav e considered... Other (please specify) % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % No- we have not considered outsourcing Yes- we have considered this but we decided against outsourcing Yes- we have considered outsourcing, but have not yet taken a decision regarding whether to continue providing services in house or whether to outsource them. Other (please specify) Total 5 # Further comments Date There are no responses. 4 / 7

18 Q3 Which department in your organisation took the decision against outsourcing of immigration services? Answ ered: 8 Skipped: 45 HR Procurement/ purchasing Senior Management Other (please specify) N/A or no decision yet... % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % HR Procurement/ purchasing Senior Management Other (please specify) N/A or no decision yet made 37.5% 3 25.% % 3 Total 8 # Further Comments Date There are no responses. 5 / 7

19 Q4 Please rank the 3 most important factors which influenced your decision NOT to outsource these services? Answ ered: 5 Skipped: N/A- Decision not yet taken Cost Unw illingness to rely on an external prov ider Unwillingnes to manage the increasing coordination requirements Inability to hav e sufficient influence/ control over certain serv ices Unw illingness to lose internal expertise and/ or staff members Unwillingess of internal stakeholders to accept outsourcing of serv ices Due to concerns ov er quality Other (please specify) Unsure- I w as not inv olv ed in managing the decisions making process Total Av erage Rating % 25.% N/A- Decision not yet taken 3 3. # Further comments Date There are no responses. 6 / 7

20 Q5 Please provide any further information that you feel may be helpful. Answ ered: 3 Skipped: 5 # Date Outsourcing definitely brings a good dimension to compliance but service levels are varied between companies. I would recommend including clearly defined service levels in your outsourcing ontracts. 2 I have not found an immigration provider that is able to provide a consistent level of expertise or high level of service delivery globally. We therefore partner with different providers in different locations. It's not the most efficient approach but works. 6/5/24 7:55 PM 6/2/24 :6 AM 3-6/2/24 8:45 AM 7 / 7