Also, employers are federally mandated to verify the employment eligibility of their entire workforce via the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. The most common employment visa, H-1B, is used for an alien who is coming to perform services in a specialty occupation in the United States. L visas are used for intracompany transferees that enter the US to render services in a capacity that is managerial, executive, or involves specialized knowledge , while E visas are used for treaty traders and investors . Finally, the TN category includes Canadian and Mexican citizens seeking temporary entry to engage in business activities at a professional level as listed in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Corporate changes that typically have immigration consequences are stock or asset acquisitions, mergers, consolidations, initial public offerings, spin-offs, corporate name changes, changes in payroll source, and the relocation of an employer or its employees.
Acquisitions involve the purchase of assets or stock.
In an asset acquisition, the purchaser may not accept the liabilities of the seller. In a merger, two or more legal entities combine all their assets in what is called the surviving entity . Other entities, which are called the merged entities , cease to exist. The surviving entity assumes all of their liabilities. In a consolidation, however, two or more legal entities combine all their assets to form a new entity.