Below please find a link to a blog post from the USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, and some relevant excerpts, which discuss this current administration’s efforts to attract and retain high-skill entrepreneurs. http://blog.uscis.gov/2011/08/encouraging-entrepreneurs-and-high.html As part of the Administration’s comprehensive effort to attract and retain high-skill entrepreneurs, USCIS announced today [8/2/2011] that it will: • Clarify that immigrant entrepreneurs may obtain an employment-based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements, and also may qualify for a National Interest Waiver under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States; • Expand the Premium Processing Service to immigrant petitions for multinational executives and managers; • Clarify when a sole employee-entrepreneur can establish a valid employer-employee relationship for the purposes of qualifying for an H-1B non-immigrant visa; • Implement fundamental enhancements to streamline the EB-5 process based directly on stakeholder feedback; • Launch new engagement opportunities to seek input and feedback on how to address the unique circumstances of entrepreneurs, new businesses and startup companies. Of course, these efforts are more than welcome. But, I am approaching the same with a healthy degree of skepticism, considering USCIS continues to make questionable [am being polite here] decisions on visa matters involving highly-skilled foreign nationals with legitimate U.S. job offers.
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