Entrepreneurs in Residence

On October 11, 2011 USCIS issued a press release announcing its “Entrepreneurs in Residence” initiative.  “This new innovative initiative will utilize industry expertise to strengthen USCIS policies and practices surrounding immigrant investors, entrepreneurs and workers with specialized skills, knowledge, or abilities.”

The initiative appears to be designed to obtain critical feedback from the public and private sector regarding employment based immigration and how to maximize America’s benefit from such programs.  USCIS will be conducting a series of informational summits with industry leaders and then create a team comprised of entrepreneurs, industry experts and USCIS personnel to design and implement effective solutions.  According to the press release, “The initiative builds upon USCIS’s August announcement of efforts to promote startup enterprises and spur job creation, including enhancements to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program”.

The immigration debate in America often lumps various aspects of immigration into one bucket when the reality is that US immigration has various components to it.  This initiative is a good start in fixing the business immigration component.  The reality is that many of the employment visas are issued to entrepreneurs who create jobs for Americans.  We need all the help we can get in this economy!