A study recently released by the National Foundation for American Policy has found that more than half of startups in the United States that are valued at more than $1 billion are founded by immigrants.  In addition, the study found that in 71% of these $1 billion startups immigrants occupy important management and product development positions.  While the majority of foreign entrepreneurs who have founded $1 billion startups in the United States hail from India, nationals from Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Singapore also made the list.

At present, there are only a select few visas that allow entrepreneurs to come to the United States for work.  Business and work visas are limited, with the ever-popular H-1B visa being a challenge for many to attain due to the limited number of visas available each fiscal year (65,000 plus 20,000 for the Masters CAP).  According to the report by the National Foundation for American Policy, the $1 billion startups in the United States owned by immigrants currently employ more than 33,000 people and are valued at a combined $168 billion.  Given the success of these companies, supporters argue that United States immigration laws should be updated to provide for an easier path for foreign entrepreneurs to come to the United States.  To learn more about what visas are available for entrepreneurs in the United States please schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.