On October 30, 2023, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order regarding the “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” The Executive Order (EO) directs departments and agencies throughout the government, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS), to develop plans and policies to establish
Entrepreneurs
USCIS Clarifies L-1 Intracompany Transfer Petitions and Sole Proprietorships, Blanket L Petitions
USCIS has issued new policy guidance on L-1 intracompany transfer petitions addressing sole proprietorships and Blanket L petitions.
There are two highlights:
- USCIS has clarified that sole proprietorships cannot file L petitions on behalf of the owner, i.e., the sole proprietor. USCIS distinguishes sole proprietorships from self-incorporated entities such as a corporations or limited liability
International Entrepreneur Parole Series Part 3: Program Application Procedures
The Immigration and Nationality Act delegates authority to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to decide whether to parole a foreign person into the United States. Parole is a discretionary remedy decided on a case-by-case basis, evaluating the totality of evidence to determine if the foreign person’s presence in the United States will provide a…
International Entrepreneur Parole Series Part 2: Document Requirements
The first installment in this series discussing the International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP) program identified the challenge and a potential solution for foreign entrepreneurs to legally enter the United States to develop a business concept and outlined the detailed program requirements. This part of the series will examine the specific documentary requirements necessary to satisfy those…
International Entrepreneur Parole Series Part 1: A Primer
Certain foreign entrepreneurs have a new pathway available to enter the United States to develop a business concept through a start-up company. Entrepreneurs who will have a central and active role in a start-up company that has attracted private investment or government funding may benefit from the International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP) program. While complex and…
EB-5 Program Changes Under Reform and Integrity Act
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program has gone through significant changes in 2022 due to the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA).
Created in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors, the EB-5 Program provides a path to permanent residence (a “green card”) based…
Bill Passed by House Benefits Immigrants in STEM Fields, Entrepreneurs in Start-Ups
On February 4, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the American Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act (known as the America COMPETES Act of 2022). The bill is aimed at “outcompeting China and the rest of the world in the 21st century.” Title III of the COMPETES Act adds…
Qualifying International Entrepreneurs Must Meet New Dollar Amounts Beginning October 2022
New dollar eligibility criteria for investment amounts, qualifying investors, and re-parole considerations under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) will take effect on October 1, 2022.
The Biden Administration relaunched the IER in May to grow the economy through job creation. The IER makes it possible for certain promising start-up founders and entrepreneurs to come to…
Immigration and Labor Shortages
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching. The labor shortage plaguing America has been one of the most publicized. Why is it so difficult for some employers to find employees? The 2020 United States Census offers possible reasons: an aging population, decreased fertility rates, and low rates of immigration.
The 7.4% population…
Relaunch of Program to Attract International Entrepreneurs
The Biden administration is breathing life into the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). It has announced that the IER will be launched anew, because it will “strengthen and grow our nation’s economy through increased capital spending, innovation, and job creation.”
Although there were stops and starts, the IER was never actually eliminated by the Trump administration.…