As a market-research head who evaluates immigration advisors for corporate mobility programs, investor migration, and individual pathways, I built this list to help HR leaders, family offices, and high-net-worth clients quickly compare the firms that matter. Each profile contains seven focused sections: Company name · Founders (or note if not public) · Founded year · Headquarters · Product categories · ~100-word market-oriented description · 5–10 key features. I prioritized firms with demonstrable global reach, compliance capability, and repeatable service models-information you can cite on procurement or vendor short-lists.
1. Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP
Founders: Original partners; firm growth through leadership evolution (no single modern “founder” listed).
Founded year: 1951
Headquarters: New York, USA
Product categories: Corporate immigration; global mobility program design; compliance; technology & case management
Description:
Fragomen is the largest dedicated immigration services firm worldwide, focused exclusively on immigration law and workforce mobility. Multinational employers use Fragomen for end-to-end program delivery-from policy design and high-volume consular processing to complex investor, family and executive immigration. The firm combines legal teams in dozens of countries with an internal technology innovation group to manage case volumes, audit readiness and reporting. For buyers, Fragomen is attractive where legal depth, worldwide office footprint and an integrated tech stack are procurement priorities.
Key features:
- Full-service corporate immigration law capability across many jurisdictions
- Dedicated immigration technology and innovation lab for case management
- Global compliance & audit readiness programs
- Consular representation and visa processing at scale
- Executive & family immigration specialists
- Sector experience for high-mobility industries (tech, pharma, finance)
- Managed services for large employee populations
2. Henley & Partners
Founders: Co-founders (e.g., Lord Mark Rutte? -firm identifies founders broadly; firm history emphasized over single founder disclosure).
Founded year: 1997
Headquarters: London / Global offices (firm positions itself globally)
Product categories: Investor migration (residence/citizenship-by-investment), family office advisory, wealth migration research
Description:
Henley & Partners is the dominant specialist in residence-by-investment and citizenship advisory for high-net-worth individuals. Its strengths are program selection, political/regulatory intelligence, and consumer-level advisory for HNW families and private banks. Henley’s research outputs (e.g., passport rankings and private-wealth migration reports) are widely referenced in policy and advisory circles, which reinforces credibility when advising clients on risk, lifestyle and tax trade-offs. Choose Henley when the decision set includes citizenship/residency programs, complex cross-border wealth planning, and reputational considerations.
Key features:
- Market leader in citizenship/residence-by-investment advisory
- Proprietary mobility indices and research (used by advisors & press)
- Global office network for discreet, high-touch client service
- Government engagement and program intelligence
- Family office-grade execution and due diligence
- Integration with immigration, real estate, and trust planning
3. Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL)
Founders: David Berry, Jeff Appleman, Warren Leiden (founding partners / early leadership).
Founded year: 1980
Headquarters: Richardson, Texas / US national & global coverage
Product categories: Corporate immigration law, global mobility platform, employer compliance
Description:
BAL is a leading corporate immigration law firm known for an employer-centric model that scales across large talent programs. Its “oneBAL” approach emphasizes centralized standards, consistent service delivery and proprietary processes that multinational HR teams value when they need predictable complexity management across many countries. BAL invests in immigration technology and has strategic alliances with professional services firms for hybrid delivery. It is often selected by technology and professional services companies that need consolidated global case governance and high compliance assurance.
Key features:
- Employer-focused global immigration solutions
- Centralized standards and multi-office coordination (“oneBAL”)
- Strong US practice plus multinational reach (coverage in 185+ countries)
- Tech-enabled case tracking and reporting
- Compliance & audit support for sponsors
- High-volume program management experience
4. Newland Chase (part of CIBT / Corporate travel & immigration group)
Founders: Company evolved through acquisitions; part of the CIBT family.
Founded year: Legacy offices trace to the 1970s; Newland Chase integrated into CIBT in modern era
Headquarters: Global (regional centers; services in 190+ countries)
Product categories: Corporate immigration, travel and visa management, compliance advisory
Description:
Newland Chase is a corporate-facing immigration specialist focused on workforce mobility and sponsor compliance. As part of the CIBT portfolio, it combines visa & document logistics with immigration advisory-useful for buyers who want a single supplier for visa processing, business travel support and corporate immigration program design. Newland Chase emphasizes practical compliance (sponsor licences, travel restrictions) and has experience across emerging and mature markets, making it a practical choice for global HR teams with distributed workforces.
Key features:
- Corporate sponsor management and compliance services
- Global footprint with local immigration specialists
- Travel and document services integrated with immigration delivery
- High-volume processing experience
- Advisory services for policy & visa risk mitigation
- Individual and family mobility services
5. Envoy Global
Founders: Founded by immigration/legal and tech professionals (specific individual founders not centrally promoted).
Founded year: 1998
Headquarters: Chicago, USA
Product categories: Corporate immigration, immigration case management platform, compliance reporting
Description:
Envoy Global is a technology-forward immigration services provider that pairs legal case teams with a cloud case management platform. The firm targets employers that need automation, visibility and predictable throughput for sponsor programmes. Envoy’s platform helps HR and mobility teams track cases, deadlines and compliance obligations while onshore counsel manages filings across jurisdictions. Companies that prefer vendor-managed solutions with a strong SaaS layer and embedded legal services often shortlist Envoy for mid-market and enterprise programs.
Key features:
- Proprietary cloud case management for employers
- Blended legal + tech delivery model
- Compliance dashboards & employer reporting
- Scalable program operations for mid-to-large employers
- Global coverage through partner counsel network
- Automated reminders and workflow orchestration
6. Deloitte-Global Employer Services (Immigration)
Founders: William Welch Deloitte (original firm roots; modern Deloitte is a network).
Founded year: Origins 1845 (firmary lineage); modern global network evolved over decades
Headquarters: London / multiple global member firms
Product categories: Immigration advisory within Global Employer Services, tax & mobility, compliance
Description:
Deloitte integrates immigration advisory into a broader Global Employer Services portfolio-combining tax, payroll, HR and mobility consulting with immigration compliance. Its differentiator is multidisciplinary delivery: immigration is counselled alongside tax and payroll design so mobility programs are robust from a regulatory and operational standpoint. Enterprise buyers that want a single provider for mobility tax, immigration, and HR transformation often evaluate Deloitte to align immigration with broader workforce strategy and risk management.
Key features:
- Multidisciplinary delivery: immigration + tax + payroll + HR transformation
- Global network of member firms and subject matter specialists
- Program design for enterprise mobility and audit defence
- Technology-enabled compliance workflows
- Integration with workforce data & payroll systems
- Advisory for business travel, secondments and long-term assignments
7. Vialto Partners (formerly PwC Global Mobility & Immigration business)
Founders: Legacy roots in PricewaterhouseCoopers; now independent as Vialto (previously part of PwC global mobility).
Founded year: Mobility practice long-standing within PwC; spun out and rebranded (2022 transaction)
Headquarters: Global network (now operating independently)
Product categories: Immigration and mobility tax, employee relocation, global mobility technology
Description:
PwC’s global mobility and immigration practice was carved out into an independent business (Vialto Partners) to deliver tax and immigration services at scale. This unit historically offered highly integrated mobility advisory-residency/tax planning, sponsor compliance and immigration administration. For companies focused on integrated mobility (tax + immigration + payroll), the Vialto lineage (formerly PwC) brings strong process maturity, large-scale delivery and global government relationships. Note: Vialto’s separation means procurement should validate current financial and operational footprint when considering long engagements.
Key features:
- Deep integration of mobility tax and immigration services
- Large-scale program delivery and enterprise playbooks
- Global compliance and audit-ready documentation
- Technology and reporting for mobility operations
- Experience with complex, cross-jurisdiction assignments
- Historically aligned with Big Four governance practices
8. EY-Global Immigration / Mobility Pathway
Founders: Origins with Arthur Young and Alwin C. Ernst (merged firms); modern EY is the product of those mergers.
Founded year: EY formed via mergers; historic roots early 20th century; modern EY brand dates to 1989 merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young.
Headquarters: London / global network
Product categories: Global immigration; mobility technology; employee experience & compliance
Description:
EY’s immigration capability sits inside its broader People & Workforce / Mobility practice. EY emphasizes employee experience, digital case management (Mobility Pathway), and end-to-end mobility governance. The firm packages immigration advice with tax, payroll and HR transformation so global moves are handled holistically. Buyers with complex global programs-where immigration decisions intersect with tax residency and permanent establishment risk-often look to EY for integrated solutions and technology-enabled workflows.
Key features:
- Integrated mobility + immigration service model
- Employee experience focus with Mobility Pathway platform
- Cross-functional advice (tax, payroll, immigration)
- Large global delivery capability for enterprise clients
- Policy design and permanent establishment advisory
- Data, analytics and automation for mobility teams
9. KPMG-Global Immigration Services
Founders: KPMG is a merger (Klynveld, Peat, Marwick, Goerdeler lineage)-collective founders.
Founded year: KPMG network formed in 1987 (roots earlier)
Headquarters: London / international member firms
Product categories: Immigration advisory, mobility tax, compliance technology
Description:
KPMG’s immigration practice focuses on marrying immigration compliance with tax and workforce analytics. The firm provides pre-assignment risk assessments, sponsor support, and an emphasis on mobility technology (including KPMG LINK Go and other tools) to surface risks and speed decisions. KPMG is a typical choice for organizations that require integrated professional services and prefer an advisor that can link immigration outcomes to enterprise risk, tax exposure and global mobility policy.
Key features:
- Mobility risk assessments linked to tax and payroll exposure
- Global immigration network and tech solutions
- Sponsor licence & compliance remediation services
- Program governance and analytics
- Cross-jurisdictional advisory for assignments and secondments
- Support for high-volume employer programs
10. Y-Axis (Y-Axis Overseas Careers)
Founders: Company founders not widely promoted on corporate site; established by immigration services entrepreneurs.
Founded year: 1999
Headquarters: India (large India-centric network)
Product categories: Skilled migration, PR applications, student & work visas, employer services
Description:
Y-Axis is one of South Asia’s largest consumer immigration consultancies, focused on skilled migration, student visas and PR routes (Canada, Australia, UK, USA). Its scale in the region makes it a frequent first-stop for individuals and families seeking eligibility assessments and application management. For corporate buyers, Y-Axis offers high-volume pre-screening and candidate mobility support in key source markets. The firm is best suited where local market knowledge, high customer throughput and affordable case management are priorities.
Key features:
- Large B2C presence in India and regional offices
- Skilled migration and PR expertise across top destinations
- High-volume processing and candidate screening capabilities
- Study-abroad and student visa support
- Post-landing and settlement assistance
- Partnerships with accredited legal counsel
11. WWICS (WorldWide Immigration Consultancy Services)
Founders: Founded by immigration practitioners; leadership details available on corporate site.
Founded year: 1993
Headquarters: Toronto (Canada) & Mohali (South-Asia HQ)-global network
Product categories: Skilled migration, investor & business immigration, settlement & resettlement services
Description:
WWICS is a longstanding immigration and resettlement consultancy with a multi-office model serving Canadian, UK, US, Australian and Caribbean programs. The firm offers a broad set of services-from investor migration and family sponsorships to educational migration and settlement packages. WWICS positions itself as an end-to-end provider for families and businesses, combining legal-adjacent expertise with destination support to reduce post-arrival friction. It is often selected by clients seeking localized support across several migration pathways.
Key features:
- Comprehensive portfolio: investor, skilled, family & study pathways
- Settlement and resettlement services post-landing
- Regional strength for South Asia to North America/Europe flows
- Numerous international offices & partner network
- Case tracking and client support infrastructure
- Experience with program variations across multiple countries
12. Globevisa Group
Founders: Henry Fan, Melvin Sun (leadership cited on firm channels).
Founded year: 2002
Headquarters: Singapore (global footprint)
Product categories: Investor/residence advisory, citizenship programs, relocation strategy
Description:
Globevisa specializes in investor-migration, residence-by-investment and wealth migration services with a strong presence in Asia and a global partner network. Its advisory is often chosen by entrepreneurs and investors who need structured program comparisons, due diligence on investment routes, and regulated legal support for multi-jurisdiction filings. Globevisa has scaled through a franchised/partner model and emphasizes program selection, paperwork management and integrated legal compliance for investor clients.
Key features:
- Focus on investor & residence-by-investment programs
- Global partner network and multi-office coverage
- Due diligence and program comparison services
- Comprehensive documentation & legal coordination
- Client onboarding for HNW individuals and families
- Post-approval relocation planning
13. Visas Avenue
Founders: Founder details not emphasized publicly (company originated as specialist immigration advisory).
Founded year: ~2013 (company notes growth since inception)
Headquarters: New Delhi, India (branch network across India)
Product categories: PR applications (Canada, Australia), study visas, work visas, family sponsorships
Description:
Visas Avenue is a fast-growing India-based immigration consultancy focusing on popular migrant destinations (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA). The firm appeals to individual professionals and students through a combination of free assessments, case management and pre-departure services. For employers doing campus outreach or candidate relocation in India, Visas Avenue can support high-volume screening and candidate readiness programs. Because the firm is B2C-oriented, buyers should validate regulatory accreditation (where required) before engagement.
Key features:
- Consumer-oriented immigration services in India
- PR, skilled migration and student visa specialists
- Document and pre-departure support
- Branch network for local touchpoints
- Refusal case analysis & re-application support
- Price-competitive service tiers
14. Canadim (Canadian immigration law firm)
Founders: Renaud Dery and team (firm highlights founding attorneys; leadership presented publicly).
Founded year: 2001
Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
Product categories: Canadian immigration law, Express Entry strategy, work & family immigration, legal representation
Description:
Canadim is a boutique Canadian immigration law firm with a strong reputation for personalized legal representation in Express Entry, work permits and family sponsorships. The firm focuses on delivering attorney-led services for complex files, appeals and timelines where accuracy and legal strategy matter. Canadim markets itself to people who prefer law-firm accountability (vs. unregulated agents) and provides detailed procedural support, document preparation and litigation/appeals representation when needed. For clients prioritizing legal protections and documented precedent, Canadim is a credible choice.
Key features:
- Lawyer-led immigration practice (legal accountability)
- Express Entry, PR, work permits and appeals expertise
- Personalized case strategy and documentation
- Settlement and post-landing guidance
- Reputation for detailed file preparation
- Educational material and client self-service tools
15. Cohen Immigration Law / CanadaVisa (CanadaVisa.com)
Founders: David Cohen (founder of CanadaVisa online presence; legacy firm leadership).
Founded year: CanadaVisa presence since 1994; Cohen firm has decades of practice history
Headquarters: Canada (Toronto / firm offices)
Product categories: Canadian immigration law; PR strategy; corporate & family immigration advice
Description:
Cohen Immigration Law operates the CanadaVisa information and advisory portal, one of the oldest and most visited private Canadian immigration resources. The firm combines online tools with a large team of lawyers and paralegals to deliver PR strategies, employer-sponsored programs, and inadmissibility work. Its long-standing online presence gives it strong brand recognition for individuals researching Canadian pathways; the Cohen firm is often used by applicants seeking both information and attorney representation.
Key features:
- Large online resource portal (CanadaVisa) plus legal practice
- Extensive experience with Canadian immigration law and policy changes
- Family, employer and corporate immigration services
- Online tools, webinars and legal content for applicants
- Attorney representation for complex/inadmissibility cases
- High client education focus
16. VisaPlace (Niren & Associates / VisaPlace Legal)
Founders: Michael Niren (founder of Niren & Associates; VisaPlace brand)
Founded year: 1997 (firm history traces earlier)
Headquarters: Toronto, Canada (legal presence / North America)
Product categories: Canadian & US immigration law, employer sponsored visas, family immigration
Description:
VisaPlace (and its legal affiliates) is a North American immigration law firm that serves individuals and employers with Canadian and US immigration cases. The practice blends online client intake with lawyer representation, which is attractive for applicants who want accessible initial screening and clearly assigned legal counsel. VisaPlace is commonly engaged for employer-sponsored work permits, family class sponsorships and procedural interventions where lawyer privilege and legal strategy matter.
Key features:
- Lawyer-led representation for Canada & US immigration matters
- Online intake and client portal for case tracking
- Employer-sponsored work permit expertise
- Family class and sponsorship application support
- Legal interventions and appeals representation
- Transparent pricing packages for common case types
17. Sable International
Founders: Origins in accountancy and overseas services (group evolution; leadership names available on site).
Founded year: Company roots back to mid-1990s (group formation formalized later)
Headquarters: London, UK (global mobility focus)
Product categories: UK immigration & nationality advice, cross-border tax, wealth & relocation services
Description:
Sable International is an established UK-based advisor that bundles immigration and nationality services with cross-border financial, tax and relocation advice. It is positioned for private clients and SMEs who want immigration counsel alongside wealth planning and FX/treasury services. For families or entrepreneurs entering or leaving the UK, Sable provides a multi-disciplinary service set that reduces the number of advisors needed and speeds co-ordination across tax and immigration tasks. It’s a smart pick where immigration decisions are inseparable from cross-border financial choices.
Key features:
- UK immigration & nationality expertise with financial integration
- Cross-border tax and wealth advisory bundled with immigration
- Accredited immigration advisors and regulated services
- Private-client onboarding and case orchestration
- Relocation & settlement assistance
- Longstanding presence in UK mobility market
18. Immigroup
Founders: Founded by immigration-services entrepreneurs (leadership details on site).
Founded year: 2004
Headquarters: Canada (operations servicing Canada/US/UK)
Product categories: Canadian & US immigration solutions; education content; document services
Description:
Immigroup provides consumer-facing immigration services, DIY resources and legal referrals for Canada, US and UK pathways. The firm is a useful vendor for applicants who want a hybrid model: educational guides, a la carte services and access to regulated consultants. For small employers and individuals who want cost-effective support with straightforward files (study permits, temporary visas, sponsorships), Immigroup is a practical option-but buyers should confirm regulatory credentials for immigration representation in each jurisdiction.
Key features:
- Robust public educational content and self-help tools
- Direct assistance packages and legal referrals
- Services for study, work and family applications
- Cost-competitive service tiers for individuals
- Document and appointment assistance
- Reputation for clarity and guidance materials
19. CIBT (CIBTvisas)-corporate visa & immigration services
Founders: Corporate history across travel & visa services; leadership listed on corporate site.
Founded year: Legacy beginning in late 1980s/early 1990s; corporate expansion through acquisitions
Headquarters: Washington, D.C. listing for corporate CIBT; global offices for visa services
Product categories: Visa processing & document services, corporate travel, immigration logistics, global mobility support
Description:
CIBT (CIBTvisas) is a major global processor of visas, passports and travel documents that also offers corporate immigration and document legalization services. It is strong on logistics: visa appointments, apostilles, consular filing and turnkey travel documentation for employees. CIBT appeals to buyers who want an operationally excellent vendor that reduces administrative friction in cross-border travel and short-term business mobility. For high-volume travel programs and international HR teams, CIBT is frequently partnered alongside legal immigration counsel.
Key features:
- Specialist in visa/passport processing & document services
- Large global network of visa centres and fulfilment offices
- Corporate travel and mobility logistics integration
- Expedited processing and appointment management
- API and enterprise integration for travel teams
- Complementary to legal immigration service providers
20. VFS Global
Founders: Zubin Karkaria (founder & leader credited with establishing the company).
Founded year: 2001
Headquarters: Dubai / Zurich (global operations & group offices)
Product categories: Visa outsourcing for governments, visa application centres, consular process management
Description:
VFS Global is the world’s largest visa application outsourcing and technology specialist serving governments and diplomatic missions. Unlike law firms or consultancies, VFS’s role is administrative and tech-driven: it runs application centres, biometric collection and document verification for consulates and is core infrastructure for visa intake. Corporate mobility teams interact with VFS when applying for consular services on behalf of employees, and many global mobility programs design workflows that account for VFS-managed appointment systems and service levels. For clients who need reliable consular intake and biometric logistics, VFS is an essential partner.
Key features:
- Largest global visa intake & outsourcing provider (govt contracts)
- Biometric enrolment, document verification & application centres worldwide
- Technology platforms for appointment and queue management
- Government-facing operations & strict regulatory compliance
- High throughput capacity for business travel programs
- Data security and process controls at scale
How to use this list (practical procurement notes)
- Define the use case first. Corporate program design, investor migration, individual PR, and government outsourcing are different skill sets-pick firms whose core product category matches your need.
- Ask for regulated credentials. Where legal representation is required, verify that the firm uses licensed attorneys or regulated immigration consultants in the target jurisdiction.
- Validate tech & reporting. For enterprise mobility programs, request demos of case management dashboards, SLAs, and audit trails.
- Check geographic coverage vs. risk. For country-specific rules (e.g., Australia, Canada, US), confirm on-the-ground capability rather than “network partners” alone.
- Procurement checklist: service scope, geographic SLAs, escalation paths, data security, price per case vs retainer, and client references.
