May 25, 2018
Department of Homeland Security Proposes Rule Ending the International Entrepreneur Rule
On May 25, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it intends to end the International Entrepreneur Rule. The International Entrepreneur Rule allows certain foreign entrepreneurs to apply for parole to temporarily enter the United States to develop and build start-up companies.
The DHS proposal seeks to completely eliminate the International Entrepreneur Rule. According to a statement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS “believes that [the International Entrepreneur Rule] represents an overly broad interpretation of parole authority, lacks sufficient protections for U.S. workers and investors, and is not the appropriate vehicle for attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs.”
However, proponents of the International Entrepreneur Rule note that this rule fills a gaping hole in the U.S. immigration system by allowing true innovators, who often have no other suitable visa alternatives, into the country to establish and grow new business opportunities.
The proposed rule will be officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Public comments will then be accepted for 30 days after publication. The proposal discusses several options on how DHS would implement termination of the International Entrepreneur Rule and the public is encouraged to provide feedback on these options.
If you have questions about how the proposed end of the International Entrepreneur Rule may impact you or your start-up company, please contact our office today.