U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas has announced the creation of the "Entrepreneurs in Residence" initiative to strengthen USCIS policies and practices surrounding immigrant investors, entrepreneurs and workers with specialized skills, knowledge, or abilities.
Director Mayorkas announced the initiative at the Jobs Council's High Growth Entrepreneurship Listening and Action Session at AlphaLab in Pittsburgh before the Council's quarterly meeting with President Obama. USCIS will attempt to utilize industry expertise from the private and public sector to gain insights in areas critical for economic growth to maximize the ability of current immigration law to create and protect American jobs.
USCIS will launch the "Entrepreneurs in Residence" initiative with a series of informational summits with industry leaders to gather high-level strategic input. Informed by the summits, USCIS will gather a tactical team comprised of entrepreneurs and experts, working with USCIS personnel, to design and implement effective solutions. Director Mayorkas claims the initiative will strengthen USCIS's collaboration with industries, at the policy, training, and officer level, while complying with all current Federal statutes and regulations.
The initiative is the latest in a series of announcements from USCIS regarding efforts to improve entrepreneur and investor programs. In May, USCIS announced proposals to streamline the processing of EB-5 investor petitions. In August, USCIS released FAQs regarding the application of the EB-2 National Interest Waiver to entrepreneurs. While the ultimate effect of such initiatives remains unknown, it is clearly a step in the right direction for USCIS.
The Law Offices of Richard A. Gump, Jr. assists foreign national entrepreneurs and investors with temporary and permanent visas.
