USCIS to Officially Begin Accepting IER Applications

International Entrepreneurs Welcome

On Thursday, December 14th, United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would begin implementing the long-awaited and industry-lauded International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). The IER was introduced late in the Obama Administration in order to provide a new and unlimited parole route for foreign entrepreneurs to come and expand their businesses in the U.S., provided that they meet certain qualifications as judged on a case-by-case basis.

The rule was initially slated to begin on July 17th, 2017, but was delayed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just six days before its scheduled implementation. However, after a lawsuit and victorious ruling by the U.S. District of Columbia's District Court in National Venture Capital Association v. Duke on December 1st, the DOS was ordered to cease all delay and finally begin the IER's implementation.

That implementation is now in effect. 

A Sense of Urgency

It must be stressed that the DHS is still seeking to remove the rule and will proceed with issuing a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) to do so, much to American business and economists' chagrin. The IER was originally delayed until March 6th, 2018, with plans to abandon it altogether following that date. While a current date of possible removal cannot be known, the DHS is reported to be in the final stages of drafting the NPRM. 

Therefore, it is crucial that prospective entrepreneurs take advantage of this unprecedented rule while it is still here, while others maintain pressure on the administration to keep such beneficial policies as this in place.

Instructions for applying for the International Entrepreneur Rule may be found here.