May 14, 2021
LawQuest US Immigration Alert | USCIS Revives The International Entrepreneur Parole Program
USCIS Revives The International Entrepreneur Parole Program
This week, the USCIS revived The International Entrepreneur Parole Program (“the IEP”) which grants qualifying foreign nationals permission to remain in the United States for up to five years in order to grow a start-up business that has potential for substantial growth and job creation. The program does not provide a direct path to permanent residence. The IEP was established by the Obama Administration but was put on hold in 2017 when former President Trump took office. The Biden Administration is relaunching the program with the objective to reduce barriers to U.S. immigration and provide opportunities to foreign entrepreneurs to grow businesses in the United States.
Under the IEP, qualifying entrepreneurs receive parole – a discretionary and temporary permission to enter and remain in the United States. An entrepreneur may be eligible for an additional 30 months of parole under certain circumstances, subject to fulfilment of certain criteria.
The IEP Program is welcome news for foreign entrepreneurs who own businesses in the U.S. but do not qualify under any of the U.S. employment visa programs.
If you have questions about the International Entrepreneur Program, LawQuest would be happy to answer. This alert is solely for informational purposes.
