The Immigration Debate pt.2

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Immigration InvesmentAttracting Entrepreneurial Investment from Abroad

Congress recently responded to the immigration investment challenge through the re-introduction of the Startup Visa Act of 2011, S. 565.  The legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 14, 2011. The Startup Visa Act has been referred to the Judiciary Committee in both legislative chambers.

The Startup Visa Act is intended to establish a way for the smartest and most entrepreneurial individuals in the world to come to the United States, secure their visas, create jobs and improve U.S. global competitiveness.  The legislation will allow an immigrant entrepreneur to receive a two year visa if he or she can show that a qualified U.S. investor is willing to invest in the immigrant’s startup venture.  The pool of eligible immigrants would now include holders of H-1B visas and entrepreneurs living outside the United States with a market presence in the country.

immigration investmentNo Free Lunch

The StartUp Visa Act of 2011 would amend immigration law to give immigrant entrepreneurs three new options for entry or retention of residency:

  1. Immigrant entrepreneurs living outside the U.S. would be eligible to apply for a  StartUp Visa if a qualified U.S. investor agrees to financially sponsor their entrepreneurial venture with a minimum investment of $100,000. After two years,  their business must have created 5 new jobs and raised not less than $500,000 in additional capital investment or generate not less than $500,000 in revenue.
  2. Immigrant entrepreneurs currently in the U.S. on an unexpired H-1B visa; OR immigrant entrepreneurs currently in the U.S. who have completed a graduate level degree in science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, or other relevant academic discipline from an accredited United States college, university, or other institution of higher education would be eligible for a StartUp Visa if;
    1. They demonstrate annual income of not less than roughly $30,000 or the possession of assets of not less than roughly $60,000; and
    2. Have proof that a qualified U.S. investor agrees to financially back their entrepreneurial venture with a minimum investment of $20,000.
    3. After two years, their business must have created 3 new jobs and raised not less than $100,000 in additional capital investment or generate not less than $100,000 in revenue.
  3. Immigrant entrepreneurs living outside the U.S. would be eligible to apply for a StartUp Visa if they have controlling interest of a company in a foreign country that has generated, during the most recent 12-month period, not less than $100,000 in revenue from sales in the U.S.

New Ideas, Not Just New Capital

To accommodate this new type of visa, adjustments would be made to the existing EB-5 visa – which grants visas to foreign nationals who invest $1 million towards the creation of 10 jobs. Under a new EB-6 category, a visa would be granted to the innovative entrepreneur with intellectual capital, instead of a wealthy foreign investor who is in a position to buy a visa. The legislation transfers an allotment of the yearly 9,940 EB-5 visas, of which only 4,191 visas were used in FY 2009, to be granted under the new EB-6 category. The creation of new visas is not authorized in this bill.

To Be Able to Invest…

The investor(s) eligible to “sponsor” immigrant entrepreneurs must be based in the U.S. – with the majority of partners being U.S. citizens – and have made $10 million capital commitments over the course of 2 years, with at least four investments exceeding $500,000 as stipulated in applicable SEC investor rules.

If your company has a stake in the upcoming immigration debate and can benefit from the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program call Cansler Consulting.

Cansler Consulting is an experienced lobbying firm in immigration, budgeting, agriculture, rural healthcare, and energy policies and through our Congressional relationships we can help you influence the policy makers on Capitol Hill. You can contact us at [email protected] or at (202) 220-3150.

Tim Cansler
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