Parole for Entrepreneurs Revisited
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4. Qualified Investors
The Entrepreneur Parole Program provides that only particular types of individuals and/or entities can qualify to invest in the start-up enterprise: A qualified investor
(i) must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, or an entity organized in the U.S., and majority owned by U.S. Citizens and/or Lawful Permanent Residents
(ii) must be investing in a U.S. business enterprise defined as an entity organized under the laws of the U.S., or the laws of a State, and is not an investment vehicle primarily engaged in the offer, purchase, or sale of securities or other similar instruments
(iii) has for the five year period immediately preceding the investment invested at least $600,000 in start-up entities; and (iv) can show that, pursuant to that investment(s), at least 2 entities were created each of which generated at least 5 full time jobs, or $500,000 in revenue, with average annualized growth of at least 20%.
No more than 3 entrepreneurs may be granted parole in connection with the same start-up entity, and an entrepreneur shall not be granted more than one additional grant of parole in connection with any one start-up entity.
5. Work Authorization
An entrepreneur paroled into the U.S. would apply for a work authorization document. An entrepreneur’s spouse may also apply for work authorization as a derivative alien.
6. Material Change
An entrepreneur’s parole status would be subject to ongoing review and could be affected by a “material change” of circumstances.
Among occurrences that would trigger a “material change” would be if any of the obligations undertaken by the entrepreneur or the enterprise are not met; if any criminal charge, government related civil actions or private, damages action (implicating more than 10% of current assets) is brought against the entrepreneur or the start-up entity; the enterprise goes out of business, is the subject of a bankruptcy petition, or is subject to the sale of all or substantially all of its assets.
7. To Grant Parole or Re-Parole is Wholly Discretionary with USCIS
Should an entrepreneur’s application for parole, or re-parole, be denied, or an entrepreneur’s parole status be revoked, there is no right to an appeal or opportunity to seek reconsideration, although USCIS can, on its own motion, reconsider its action.
The takeaway:
Under current conditions, it is impossible to tell whether the Administration will try yet again to pull the plug on this program in the way it has sought to undermine other programs designed to benefit skilled, foreign nationals. But, for the time being, it is in force and operative and therefore worthy of consideration by foreign national-entrepreneurs and their investors.
Related articles:
Part 1: Parole for Entrepreneurs
Small Business Hiring Challenges and the Immigration Landscape
Small Business Owners Need “Skilled” Foreign National Guest Workers