Last Updated on July 17, 2024
It’s that time of year again – Envoy Global’s ninth annual 2024 U.S. Immigration Trends Report is here!
Between Feb. 20, 2024, and March 13, 2024, we surveyed over 500 HR professionals specializing in global mobility and corporate immigration. We found that the 2024 immigration landscape is shaped by various factors including budgeting changes, changes in employee headcount, immigration fee increases and uncertainty over potential policy and economic changes.
Download the full report to learn more about what’s new for global immigration in 2024!
Immigration in 2024: What’s in Store for U.S. Employers?
In 2024, employers continue to recognize the value of recruiting and maintaining foreign national employees, despite challenges such as changes in the labor market and increasing immigration fees. As the year progresses, we expect to see budgeting and planning for immigration and mobility adjust in response to macroeconomic trends.
This year’s report captures the temperature of the business community and forecasts what is to come, covering:
- The impact of macroeconomic factors on employer demand to hire foreign talent
- Remote work and other employee benefits
- Budgeting changes and policy planning
- Benchmarking for corporate immigration programs
What Challenges, Trends and Opportunities Do U.S. Employers Face?
In 2024, our report shows that U.S. employers are dealing with policy changes, increasing immigration fees and economic uncertainty, but despite those external factors, they’re still hiring foreign talent.
Immigration Policy Changes
This year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a policy change affecting the H-1B visa program. This policy change is designed to mitigate fraud and prevent multiple selections in the H-1B cap lottery. The change to the H-1B program has been primarily well-received by employers. More than half (52%) of employers expected to submit more H-1B registrations due to the change.
Fee Increases and Labor Market Shifts
For the first time in years, 2024 has seen an adjustment to many immigration fees. Due to this change, employers are making changes to their immigration strategies. Most (58%) say they will look abroad to hire, transfer or relocate foreign national employees as a result. Another 52% say they plan to reduce the immigration-related costs that they have traditionally covered for their employees.
Employers Continue to Hire and Value Foreign Nationals
Despite economic uncertainty and immigration fee increases, U.S. employers are still committed to having foreign national employees in their workforce. They are eager to hire more foreign talent in the U.S., but they are encountering barriers in the U.S. immigration system that pose a significant obstacle in foreign talent hiring and retention. In response to the challenges they face, employers say they will continue to refine and restructure their global mobility and immigration benefits and budgets. They also plan to continue exploring and deploying strategies to access talent globally.
Employers are Improving Their Global Mobility Teams
Finally, we found that employers want a trustworthy immigration services provider such as Envoy Global to navigate labor market, policy and economic changes with ease.
Want the full scoop on global immigration trends in 2024? Download the report for all the details!
