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Since 2021, Columbus has seen rapid business growth in many legacy industries as well as new fields for the region. With top talent incubators in institutions like Ohio State University and investment from major companies like JP Morgan Chase, Intel, LG Energy Solutions, Nationwide, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and more, the Columbus-Logan County area is poised for continued expansion.
Hiring global talent can help companies meet this increased demand for skilled workers, making sure the region stays on track as one of the most innovative and competitive areas in America. An employment immigration attorney can help companies navigate complex visa processes while ensuring employer compliance.
Why Columbus Employers Should Consider Global Talent
Long a hub for the automotive industry, Columbus has also seen an explosion of new industries that require skilled labor. Columbus is now home to the world’s largest contract research organization in healthcare, the nation’s largest non-coastal venture capital fund, and a new $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant from Honda and LG Energy. Intel has also invested $20 billion in two new manufacturing plants in the region to help address the U.S. semiconductor supply chain gap. All of these elements are in addition to the $3.1 billion annual output from the automotive industry in Columbus, which has moved more and more towards specialized labor and software know-how.
Columbus is booming, but critical workforce gaps in high-demand and high-skilled industries have the potential to slow this growth or even make companies rethink their investment in the area. The Semiconductor Industry Association warns that more than half of the roughly 115,000 new positions expected to be created by the end of the decade in Columbus may go unfulfilled. The Ohio Department of Commerce has connected this workforce shortage to an aging population and a national educational disconnect in both STEM and skilled trades.
International talent can rise to meet this need. U.S. employers hiring foreign workers can diversify their talent pool while finding hires with specialized skills, new perspectives, and the potential for innovation.
Understanding Employment-Based Visas
Hiring an international employee can take many forms. While some businesses hesitate to hire internationally because of concerns over compliance, confusion, and additional cost, an immigration law firm can help you understand which path forwards is best suited to your company’s needs.
Brown Immigration Law is experienced with all of the following kinds of employment-based immigration, and can guide you through whatever scenario might arise when you look to hire internationally. Some types of temporary visas for employment-based immigration include:
- H-1B: This temporary visa requires sponsorship from a US employer, and is offered to specialized workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher, or its equivalent, in the same field as their job. Examples of H-1B workers might be computer scientists, systems analysts, software developers, mechanical or electrical engineers, financial analysts and accountants, market research consultants, and more. H-1B workers could also be doctors or nurses, teachers, architects, and scientists.
- H-2B/H-2A: This temporary visa program allows U.S. employers to hire agricultural (H-2A) or non-agricultural (H-2B) workers for temporary or seasonal jobs.
- F-1 OPT & STEM OPT: Optional Practical Training (OPT) temporary programs allow for international students to receive hands-on employment at roles in US companies in their area of study before completing their studies or after. Students who have earned a degree in certain STEM fields may apply for an extension of their post completion OPT. Accordingly, STEM OPT is especially applicable to research institutions and data science companies.
- L-1: This transfer visa allows for companies with an international presence to bring over foreign executives or managers to work at on of its offices in the US. The L-1 visa is especially useful for business immigration when it comes to building brand partnerships and supporting existing global leadership.
- O-1: This temporary visa is available for individuals who possess extraordinary ability or achievement in their field. O-1 visa holders might have made scientific breakthroughs or are internationally recognized in the arts, science, education or medicine. This temporary visa is also an option to individuals who have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
- TN: The TN visa offers a streamlined path for work visas to citizens of Mexico and Canada to engage in business at a professional level. TN-qualifying positions might include accounting, insurance, engineering, , graphic or industrial design, , social work, technical publications writing, and more.
There are also options for investors and entrepreneurs looking to put down roots in the Columbus region. Both the EB-5 and E-2 Treaty Visa can offer opportunities for foreign investors looking to connect with a U.S. company or launch their own.
Finally, there are other pathways for foreign nationals to become lawful permanent residents through employment in the United States. These employment based preference immigrant categories are for workers and individuals who aim to stay in the U.S. permanently. Not all of these categories require employer sponsorship, but many do. EB-1B candidates might be outstanding professors or researchers at universities, physicians at hospitals, certain multinational managers or executives, or individuals with extraordinary ability. The EB-2 and EB-3 categories require PERM labor certification, which an immigration attorney can advise you about undertaking. Some companies choose to begin with a temporary employment visa before considering an employee for PERM sponsorship.
Compliance Considerations for Columbus Employers
International hiring involves different strategies and legwork than hiring a U.S. citizen. Many companies already have an international outlook due to partnerships across the globe or an HR strategy that recruits overseas. Others partner with universities, colleges, and research institutions in order to source talent that is not subject to visa caps. Most companies choose to work with an immigration lawyer in order to understand the challenges that come with hiring international candidates. Some concerns regarding international hiring include:
- ICE employer immigration audits: Under both the first and second Trump administrations, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspections of businesses have risen dramatically. Failing to meet immigration compliance can result in civil fines as well as criminal penalties in some drastic situations. ICE raids can take place at any place of business. They do not only target day laborers or the construction industry. The consequences of failing to be in compliance can be dire for both employees as well as employers. Fines range from $288 to $2,861 per Form I-9 paperwork violation, and from $716-$5,724 for knowingly hiring, recruiting, referring, or retaining unauthorized aliens (first offense). Repeat offenses incur higher penalties and can induce criminal liability.
- Shifting regulations: The rules for H-1B sponsorship have been in flux over recent months. President Trump has announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications as of September 21, 2025. This is a significant change from the previous cost for H-1B sponsorship. It remains to be seen if this executive order will be challenged by Congress, as well as how it will be implemented. Working with an immigration attorney is critical during these times to ensure that your company does not run afoul of outdated guidance, or miss opportunities to file for waivers or lower costs.
- Wage obligations: International employees must be offered a certified and competitive wage when admitted under certain visas. This is to ensure that foreign workers are not hired at a much lower rate than U.S. workers. Failure to adhere to these obligations may result in significant penalties as well as being barred for certain visa programs.
- Adhering to deadlines for recruitment: Some EB preference categories are subject to PERM labor certification. This ensures that the U.S. work force is not adversely affected by hiring international employees. This certification process involves navigating strict deadlines and recruitment requirements well in advance.
- Stability: Hiring an employee on a temporary visa can be concerning when they fill a critical role at your company. Sponsoring an employee via the EB preference categories for lawful permanent residence can provide more stability for your company overall, instead of a temporary visa.
Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Global Talent
International recruitment can involve a significant investment of resources from your company. Luckily, partnering with an immigration law firm is a way to outsource much of the filing, scheduling, and attention to detail required. Employment immigration lawyers can help at any stage of the process. Your company can be supported while scouting international candidates, sponsoring them, as well as down the line should any issues arise.
Internally, best practices might involve creating a structured onboarding process as well as clarifying dates, timelines, and goals for international employees. Offering competitive compensation as well as building a strong employer brand can help attract the best talent. Furthermore, higher compensation packages may help H-1B employees be selected under upcoming proposed changes to the H-1B lottery from the Department of Homeland Security.
Columbus employers might also consider supporting international employees on their path towards permanent residency by providing relocation support, legal, and professional support. This can help reduce turnover and ensure stability for your company when an international employee fills a mission-critical role. Columbus employers might also consider investing in continuing education opportunities, offering childcare initiatives, and considering flexible work hours to account for family members and communities back abroad.
Get Help Taking Your Next Steps When it Comes To International Hiring
Columbus employers can access global talent while remaining compliant with the help of an immigration law firm. Hiring international employees can help your company stay ahead of the curve and meet the moment for expansion in Logan County. Contact Brown Immigration Law for assistance with employer immigration compliance, building a legal strategy, and addressing any challenges that might arise throughout the international hiring process.
