From an immigration standpoint, no downside and no risk. We have a lot of companies that do this: employ people abroad as W-2 employees without any U.S. work authorization (which isn't required if the employee is working remotely outside the U.S.).
How are these companies able to employ remote people as W2 employees? Aren't the remote employees subject to their local employment law? For example, in Canada the GP would need to be employed as a T4 which requires the company to maintain a Canadian presence (and pay corresponding taxes in Canada).
