Great News for entrepreneurs to start up business in the US.

USCIS has just announced its too waited proposed rule to allow international entrepreneurs to stay in the US, initially for 2 years with the possibility to extend for another 3 years, to run or manage the newly started business.  The rule is not effective pending comments.  If everything works out well we expect the new rule will take effective later this year.

Detailed requirements for this special visa, or officially called" parole", is as follows:

  1. Formation of New Start-Up Entity. The applicant has recently formed a new entity in the United States that has lawfully done business since its creation and has substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. DHS proposes that an entity may be generally considered recently formed if it was created within the 3 years preceding the date of the filing of the initial parole application.

 2. Applicant is an Entrepreneur. The applicant is an entrepreneur of the start-up entity who is well-positioned to advance the entity’s business. DHS proposes that an applicant may generally meet this standard by providing evidence that he or she: (1) possesses a significant (at least 15 percent) ownership interest in the “shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary” of Homeland Security. .and (2) has an active and central role in the operations and future growth of the entity, such that his or her knowledge, skills, or experience would substantially assist the entity in conducting and growing its business in the United States. Such an applicant cannot be a mere investor. 

3. Significant U.S. Capital Investment or Government Funding. The applicant can further validate, through reliable supporting evidence, the entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. DHS proposes that an applicant may be able to satisfy this criterion in one of several ways: a. Investments from established U.S. investors. The applicant may show that the entity has received significant investment of capital from certain qualified U.S. investors with established records of successful investments. DHS proposes that an applicant would generally be able to meet this standard by demonstrating that the start-up entity has received investments of capital totaling $345,000 or more from established U.S. investors (such as venture capital firms, angel investors, or start-up accelerators) with a history of substantial investment in successful start-up entities. b. Government grants. The applicant may show that the start-up entity has received significant awards or grants from Federal, State or local government entities with expertise in economic development, research and development, and/or job creation. DHS proposes that an applicant would generally be able to meet this standard by demonstrating that the start-up  has received monetary awards or grants totaling $100,000 or more from government entities that typically provide such funding to U.S. businesses for economic, research and development, or job creation purposes. c. Alternative criteria. DHS further proposes alternative criteria under which an applicant who partially meets one or more of the above sub-criteria related to capital investment or government funding may be considered for parole under this rule if he or she provides additional reliable and compelling evidence that his or her entry would provide a significant public benefit to the United States. Such evidence would need to serve as a compelling validation of the entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. 

If you think you may qualify for this benefits, you should consult with an experienced immigration lawyer to get ready.