Immigrant Entrepreneurs, The United States Visa System, And The Startup Act

Abstract

INTRODUCTION|A recent study indicated that five United States universities offer the top-ranked entrepreneurial graduate programs in the world. As the country that provides the largest economy on the planet (in terms of nominal gross domestic product), this may not be much of a shock. However, it is astonishing that between twenty-nine and fifty-three percent of each of the top-five schools' class profiles consist of international students. Understanding that American universities produce outstanding entrepreneurial talent and realizing that a significant portion of these programs are filled with international students makes one wonder if United States immigration policies lend a hand towards the immigrant entrepreneur who is attempting to achieve the American dream.|This Note will begin by examining three of the possible visa categories that immigrant entrepreneurs might attempt to fit into in hopes of establishing a business in America. The first category to be examined is the EB-5 visa category. Next, this Note will analyze the EB-2 visa category. Then, this Note will review the H-1B visa category...