The Trump administration might completely rescind the startup visa rule in some time, as per media reports.
The Trump government on Monday put on to halt the International Entrepreneur Rule that would have allowed foreign nationals to set up their startups in the country. The program was passed by the previous administration in January and was expected to be implemented in July 2017. Apparently, delaying the implementation of the rule is just a facade and the government has other plans for the Obama-era program. According to a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle, which was first to report on the administration’s plans to delay the rule, said that the real motive behind the delay is to buy time and finally scrap the rule totally. Reportedly, an official source, on condition of anonymity, had leaked a copy of the draft in June.
Several tech entrepreneurs were looking forward to this visa program as currently there is no provision for foreign businesspersons to stay in the country while they try setting up a new company here.
The eligibility for this program was kept strict and included a minimum fund of $250,000 in the company. If approved, the entrepreneur could stay in the US for two-and-a-half years, which could be extended for another 30 months. Though the person cannot apply for a green card on this visa status.
The opponents of the program said that the proposed scheme was fraught with flaws. “Parole is supposed to be reserved for short term and emergency purposes,” said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, the San Francisco Chronicle had reported. “Previous administrations have pushed the envelope on parole, and the Obama administration kicked right through the envelope and claimed that the existence of the parole authority meant that the president could admit anyone.”
The report said that the spokesman for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had confirmed the draft that time too.
The proponents of the rule had argued that it could bring more innovations and skills to the country. “If they want to continue to have the kind of innovation we’ve had over past two decades – like solve the world’s biggest technological challenges – they need to bring (entrepreneurs) here rather than abroad,” Jeff Farrah, vice president of government affairs for the National Venture Capital Association told the Chronicle.