USCIS Director Mayorkas Discusses Encouraging Entrepreneurs and Highly Skilled Workers to Spur U.S. Economy and Job Growth

USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas discusses on the official USCIS blog, The Beacon, how current immigration policies will spur job growth and bolster the U.S. economy. The United States has a long, rich history of welcoming innovative entrepreneurs and skilled workers into our country. These men and women fuel our nation’s economy by creating jobs, and promoting new technologies and ideas. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and outlined a series of new policy, operational, and outreach efforts that will help fuel the nation’s economy and stimulate investment by making it easier for high-skill immigrants to start and grow companies and create jobs here in the United States.

Encouraging the kinds of streamlining measures USCIS is taking today has been one key focus of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness because they help ensure that America can continue to out-innovate and out-compete the world in a global economy.

As part of the Administration’s comprehensive effort to attract and retain high-skill entrepreneurs, USCIS announced that it will:
-Clarify that immigrant entrepreneurs may obtain an employment-based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements, and also may qualify for a National Interested Waiver under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States;
-Expand the Premium Processing Service to immigrant petitions for multinational executives and managers;
-Clarify when a sole employee-entrepreneur can establish a valid employer-employee relationship for the purposes of qualifying for an H-1B non-immigrant visa;
-Implement fundamental enhancements to streamline the EB-5 process based directly on stakeholder feedback;
-Launch new engagement opportunities to seek input and feedback on how to address the unique circumstances of entrepreneurs, new businesses and start up companies.

Mr. Mayorkas is also launching “Conversations with the Director”, a new series of small group meetings he will hold to discuss immigration issues important to communities around the country. The first meeting will focus on economic development and the EB-5 investor program.

With all these policy changes, this is a sign that USCIS and DHS are working to help bring more immigrants into the U.S. who can help make an impact on our economy and spur job growth. At a time where Americans are concerned about the government’s debt, this is a great chance for our immigration policies to help make an impact on our debt and have an impact on other important social issues like unemployment. We will see in the coming months how these new policies shape up.