According to a recent NBC news report, immigrants start new businesses on a far more frequent basis than American, notwithstanding the visa challenges that they continue to face. In a 2016 report, the National Foundation for American Policy found that immigrants were responsible for more than half of American start-ups that were worth $1 billion or more. A more recent report from researchers at George Mason University that when immigrants run start-up businesses, they have a far higher level of innovation than American entrepreneurs.
There is no dispute among economists who study the issue that immigrants starting new businesses do not replace Americans who also choose to do so; rather, these immigrants have a universally positive effect on all aspects of entrepreneurship and the general economy. Researchers point to the success of Silicon Valley, which long has been a world-wide gathering place for individuals from all corners of the earth to focus on innovative tech issues.
Despite these benefits, however, many businesses and entrepreneurs are accusing the U.S. government of making the visa process more and more difficult. There only are a few potential visas that allow immigrant entrepreneurs to come to the U.S., and neither of them present a perfect route. There is no exclusive route for a visa or a green card for immigrant entrepreneurs, which means that they must find alternative ways to enter the country. The available alternatives are the E-2 visa, the EB-5 visa, and the H-1B visa, all of which have their own drawbacks.
Even these routes have become more complicated. H-1B visas, especially, have come under heightened scrutiny, and the processing of all types of visas is becoming more and more lengthy. These delays in processing have created a level of uncertainty that may deter some immigrants from coming to the U.S. Our goal is to assist you with your immigration concerns, whether family or business-based. We can evaluate your situation and develop the strategy that is most likely to be efficient and effective in your case. Regardless of the immigration matter that you are facing, the attorneys of Peek Law Group have the experience, knowledge and reputation that you want and need to advocate on your behalf. When results matter most, contact us at (512) 399-2311.