What is FISA Status (Foreign National Work Authorization)?
On this glossary, FISA status refers to a foreign national candidate or employee’s documented legal status and authorization to work in a given country. Note: this should not be confused with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a federal surveillance law unrelated to employment eligibility; if you arrived here searching for immigration or visa work-authorization status, this entry covers that HR use.
Why does FISA Status (Foreign National Work Authorization) matter?
Employers who hire foreign nationals need to verify and track work authorization status to stay compliant with immigration law and avoid penalties for employing someone without proper authorization.
How does FISA Status (Foreign National Work Authorization) work?
Employers verify a candidate’s visa type and work authorization (through documents like an EAD, visa stamp, or I-9 supporting documentation), track expiration dates, and coordinate with immigration counsel for any sponsorship or renewal needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as I-9 verification?
It’s closely related; I-9 verification confirms identity and work authorization for every new hire, while ongoing tracking of a foreign national’s specific visa status and expiration is a related, more specialized compliance need.
Who typically manages this for an employer?
HR usually tracks status and expiration dates, often working with immigration counsel for visa sponsorship, extensions, or status changes.
How BrightMove helps
BrightMove keeps documented work-authorization status alongside the rest of the candidate and employee record for easy tracking. Explore BrightMove for staffing agencies.