While my nose has been buried in deadlines, the immigration world has been busy as ever! The biggest news of the day today is that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the immigration bill by 13-5. That means the bill will now be sent to the floor for debates and a vote. More on this in another post to come!
Entrepreneur in Residence update: Last year, my second favorite subject to the Startup Act was the Entrepreneur in Residence program (EIR). EIR is an effort by the USCIS to understand businesses better, specifically new businesses. Launched February 2012 (which I attended in person), the program just passed it’s one year anniversary. It started with reviewing non-immigrant visas, but has expanded to immigrant visas. The USCIS released a summary of the program in which it lists all the accomplishments. In absence of an actual Startup Visa Act, the full effect of EIR yet to be seen. But in my opinion, EIR has done much towards training their officers about the nature of the startup business and that is commendable. I believe this training will be very important when the Startup Visa Act, now known as Invest Visa under comprehensive immigration reform, becomes law.
Our loss is Canada’s gain? Well, in an attempt to ‘show off’ the Canadian Startup Act, and lure our immigrant entrepreneurs to Canada, the Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kennedy had a 4-day tour of Sillicon Valley. The efforts to promote the new law went well as was much about it in the press. While the US struggles with not being able to retain the immigrant entrepreneur, will those entrepreneurs actually cross the border? In my opinion, we are SO close to having our own Startup Visa Act that it would be short sighted of anyone not waiting just a little bit longer to see what happens. The American dream is only achievable IN America, not anywhere else. I am still very envious of the Canadian Startup Act (my regular readers will know that I am a believer that we need to have this law), I think we are very close to having our Startup Act (Invest Visa) which will allow many people to start businesses in the US, create jobs and boost the economy. Here is a link to one Canadian news outlet discussing the trip of the Minister.
Good news for the Startup Act: There is so much support for the Startup Act! Senator Huff (R) has been showing his support for the Act. Recently, the California State Senate, under his leadership, passed a resolution to pass the bill in Congress. The State Senates action sends a message to Washington that there is support for the bill. Here is a link to a news report.