Catch-22? Need evidence of employment from current employer for visa to attend job interviews

Question

I have been on phone interviews with a major tech company - an offer would be a significant improvement, both in opportunity for self-improvement, to make a difference, as well as in monetary compensation.

Meanwhile, there are prospective projects at my current workplace that would have to be shelved or delayed should I get this offer and, as planned, take it up.

It's basically similar to the situation in this question, with an added twist -- to visit the branch where I will be based I would need a visa, and this section of the requirements in particular involves employment verification:

If you are employed, evidence of your employment. This is usually a statement on company letterhead from your employer stating your job role, length of employment, salary, and the period of approved leave. If your employer is financially supporting your visit, this should also be mentioned on the reference letter. If you are self-employed, you need to provide evidence of your business ownership (such as the business registration or shareholder’s certificate).

I have been in my current job for less than a year, which in my country means I'm not eligible for paid leave yet. I could borrow time off my leave allotment for next year, but between needing to borrow and needing a reference letter, presumably it would be hard to get away without disclosing the purpose of my visit. (note -- I got headhunted for this - unless something is seriously wrong I tend to not hunt for alternative employments until I have been in a job for a year or so).

I'm inclined to just tell my current employer about the prospective offer -- honesty being the best policy, and if the worst happens, the job offer doesn't materialize and I get sidelined at my current job, presumably that's a sign that I shouldn't be staying too long at this job anyway. but I'm really interested in what people would do in this situation.

Answer 1

Ask for two letters - asking for one letter might raise immediate suspicion because of its contents:

1. Ask for a letter from HR specifying your employment details, if it's usual practice for prospective landlords to ask for this letter - hey, they want to make sure that you are a stable tenant and they want to make sure that they get paid;

2. The letter from HR sanctioning your going on leave should be a separate issue from the letter providing evidence of length of employment and that you are currently employed.

You are probably better off not asking for the two letters in the same communication.

Answer 2

Getting your Visa

Typically when pursuing a job requiring a Visa the company that will require the Visa sponsors it NOT your current employer. A business Visa is entirely to say, "I'm allowed here because I work for ... and they are based here"

Let your prospective employer know you need a Visa

You need to ask what your potential employer's process is for setting up Visas. Typically they handle the lion's share of the work and just need you to fill out some paperwork to make sure everything is on the up and up.

What if I need to get the Visa myself

Sometimes this does happen, typically these jobs post that you need a Visa to apply, and typically you would have been disqualified from consideration by now for not having it. So I doubt this is the case. If it is though your best bet is to ask for proof of employment. (There are tons of legitimate reasons for asking for this so HR shouldn't be bothered, if they ask you can choose whether or not to disclose it's for a Visa)

Tapping into leave time you don't have yet

Depending on where you are located this may or may not be a big deal. I would simply accept you do not have Paid Time Off, so this is coming out of your pocket. (Let's say you do get to advance the PTO, you'll be burning a bridge if in good faith I gave it to you then you turned in your notice.)

If you financially can't afford to take the time off unpaid you'll have to figure out something to make ends meet... Again asking your employer to advance PTO or pay so you can quit will no go over well.

Answer 3

Tell your HR department that you need confirmation of your employment in order to apply for a visa to whatever country you're going. They probably won't ask you why you need to go there.

Don't be too worried about your company suspecting your intentions. Even if they suspect that you might be considering moving to another company, they can't really take any action against you for it. In some cases, it can be beneficial as they'll try to "win you back". I once took an unexplained leave for a few days and when I came back they gave me a raise.

However, it's probably not a good idea at this point to just tell them directly that you're thinking about leaving. They really don't need to know. Honesty is good, but self-sabotage is not.