The United States has introduced the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) for non-citizens who are entrepreneurs seeking to establish and grow their startups in the US.
The aim of the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) is to provide a valuable opportunity for non-citizen entrepreneurs from any country including Nigeria to contribute to the US economy by establishing and growing their startups.
Applicants from outside the United States therefore need to meet the specified criteria and follow the application process in order to benefit from a temporary stay in the US, whilst fostering innovation and job creation.
Here are the details of the IER, its eligibility requirements, and the application process.
The IER is a program that grants temporary parole status to foreign entrepreneurs who meet specific criteria.
This parole allows them to live and work in the United States for up to five years to develop and scale their businesses.
These conditions include:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants an authorized stay, technically called ‘parole,’ on a case-by-case basis. Entrepreneurs granted parole can work only for their startup.
Additionally, the spouse and children of the entrepreneur may also be eligible for parole, with the spouse able to apply for employment authorization upon entry to the US.
To qualify for the IER, entrepreneurs and their startups must meet the following threshold criteria:
Detailed Criteria for Entrepreneurs and Startups
Application Process
The application process is as follows:
