Hiring international independent contractors can be a simple solution for meeting your global staffing needs, but only if you thoroughly understand how to work with contractors in their host country in order to minimize the risk of employee misclassification.
All immigrants regardless of legal status are able to earn a living as independent contractors, or start a business using an ITIN or SSN.
Foreign independent contractors must submit IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E to certify their foreign status and claim any applicable tax treaty benefits. The US company may also need to file Form 1099-NEC if certain conditions are met, though this is more common for domestic contractors.
Is it legal to work for a U.S. company and live abroad? In the abstract, yes, it's legal to work for a U.S.-based company and live abroad. But in practice, it depends on the company, the job, where you plan to work, your classification, your visa, and even your citizenship.
Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin reported more than $64 billion in defense revenue in 2023, making the company the largest U.S. government contractor.
Compensation: Overseas contractors typically earn competitive salaries, with averages ranging from $80,000 to $140,000 per year, along with allowances for Meals & Incidentals (M&IE) and potential tax benefits.
PMCs often provide services to train or supplement official armed forces in service of governments, but they can also be employed by private companies to provide bodyguards for key staff or protection of company premises, especially in hostile territories.
U.S. companies can hire non-U.S. citizens as independent contractors without a work visa, provided the contractor performs the work from outside the U.S.
It can also describe individuals hired by DOD— usually through private companies, which are also considered contractors in the previous context—to perform specific tasks. The term “contractor” does not refer to military servicemembers, civilian DOD career employees, or civilian political appointees.
Take these steps to become a military contractor: Earn a high school diploma or GED. Consider earning a bachelor's degree. Enlist in the military or a security role. Create a bid that advocates your skills to the Department of Defense. Consider working for a private military contracting company.