International Entrepreneur Visa in US (H1B1 for Entrepreneurs)

Every three years, by regulation, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers will adjust the investment and revenue amounts automatically. We will post the new amounts on our website.

Under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), DHS may use its parole authority to grant a period of authorized stay, on a case-by-case basis, to noncitizen entrepreneurs who show that their stay in the United States would provide a significant public benefit through their business venture and that they merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

Under this final rule, entrepreneurs granted parole will be eligible to work only for their startup business. The spouses and children of the noncitizen entrepreneur may also be eligible for parole. While spouses may apply for work authorization once present in the United States as parolees, the children are not eligible to work. We may grant IER parole or up to three entrepreneurs per startup entity.

See below for Frequently Asked Questions. We have also published comprehensive guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule in our Policy Manual.

Eligibility

Entrepreneurs applying for parole under this rule must show that they:

• Have a substantial ownership interest in a startup entity created in the past five years in the United States that has substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation;
• Have a central and active role in the startup entity such that they are well-positioned to substantially help with the growth and success of the business;
• Will provide a significant public benefit to the United States based on their role as an entrepreneur of the startup entity by showing that:
  • The startup entity has received a significant investment of capital from certain qualified U.S. investors with established records of successful investments;
  • The startup entity has received significant awards or grants for economic development, research and development, or job creation (or other types of grants or awards typically given to startup entities) from federal, state, or local government entities that regularly provide such awards or grants to startup entities; or
  • They partially meet either or both the previous two requirements and provide additional reliable and compelling evidence of the startup entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation; and
• Otherwise merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

A spouse or child of an entrepreneur applying for parole under this rule must show that they:

• Are independently eligible for parole based on significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reasons; and
• Merit a favorable exercise of discretion.