If you have a business that routinely hires international employees or expatriates, a foreign employee screening is just as important as a routine background check. By conducting an expatriate security investigation, you can find out the background of your future employee and check to see if there are any inconsistencies on the application.

Conducting international employee screening can be tougher than typical background checks. The country your employee hails from may not have the types of public records available in the US, making it harder to find details. Thankfully, there are several companies that specialize in and will conduct international employee investigations. When you are conducting a foreign employee investigation, consider the following:

1. Stay within the privacy laws regarding employee background investigation of the home country your potential staffer.

2. When appropriate, tell possible employees of the checks you are conducting.

3. Get as much information as you can before hiring someone.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay on top of the rules and regulations when conducting a foreign employee investigation

The first step to conducting your background check is to make sure that you meet foreign employee security and privacy standards. You could be in very hot water if your business is found to be violating the laws.

I recommend: Global Screening will keep you on top of the new newest rules and regulations of conducting an international background check. Find an expatriate security company through the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.

Verify work history during your foreign employee screening

Before you hire an international employee, you need to make sure that he or she well-qualified and has done the jobs listed on the resume. Since this can be tough to do when you are in another country, it might be helpful to use expatriate security firms to investigate the employee.

I recommend: The Corra Group and Employment Screening Associates can verify your job candidate’s international employment history.

Check criminal records in your expatriate security investigation

You probably don't want to hire an employee with a serious criminal record, but checking international documents can be tough. Use a background check firm to ensure that you have international employee security.

I recommend: Abika will let you search the criminal records of a future employee by country. Investigators at EFindOutTheTruth.com will help you conduct your search.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Foreign employee background investigation doesn't always include checking for illegal drug use. Try to find a service that will conduct the tests overseas.
• •  To be on the safe side, you might want to give your job candidate a breakdown of the information you found during your international employee investigation so he or she has the chance to contest what you found.