Kerry, Lugar Re-Start Start-Up Visa

Wall Street Journal BLOG: Sens. John Kerry (D., Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R., Ind.) this week reintroduced a bill that seeks to ease immigration for foreign entrepreneurs with added provisions for some current visa holders and foreign business owners with a U.S. market presence. The so-called StartUp Visa Act – which we reported on in December, here — would provide a two-year visa to immigrant business owners who raise an initial $100,000 from a U.S. investor and $500,000 over the next two years, while creating five new jobs. Despite broad support, an earlier version of the bill failed to reach a vote before the end of the legislative session last year. The new bill would also extend a visa to immigrant entrepreneurs currently on an employer-sponsored H-1B visa, as well as those with businesses based overseas that have generated $100,000 in U.S. market sales.’