Is it legal to use services of a foreign recruiter in the US?
<p>A number of job recruiters who call me seem to be calling over a bad connection and have a pretty thick accent.  This, in itself, is not an indication that they are calling from abroad, but is there a general requirement on a person working with a recruiter to make sure that the recruiter is authorized to work in the US?  </p>

<p>Specifically, if they are hiring individuals who are US citizens on US soil and they are hiring for work at employers' US locations.  It seems like these recruiters are out of the reach of the US law and yet they are making decisions which are fairly heavily regulated in the US (such as employment decisions).</p>

<p>The Labor Department cannot regulate their actions, either (if their entire organization is abroad).  Could I be on the hook for conspiring to go around the US law if I go along with them without first ensuring that they can legally work in the US?</p>

<p>It may be that someone hiring a recruiter has to make sure some legalities are fulfilled. YOU are not hiring that recruiter. It doesn't matter to you. The company gives you a job, or they don't give you a job, that's all that matters to you. If the recruiter were put into jail for working illegally, or the company was given a millon dollar fine for hiring an illegal recruiter, that wouldn't affect you. </p>

<p>They are not working in the US. </p>

<p>Many, many companies employ workers in other countries and/or engage other companies in foreign nations to provide them with goods and services. This is not, in general, unlawful (just don't do it in Cuba).</p>

united-states labor-law