The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an updated guidance for the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) affecting EB-5 Applicants.
The updated guidance refines investment, revenue and other financial thresholds.
This update takes effect on applications filed on or after October 1, 2024, and reflects the automatic modifications established in the 2025 Final Rule. It also clarifies biometric appointment procedures for provisionally authorized applicants outside of the United States.
The goal of USCIS is to facilitate foreign inventors’ ability to contribute to the economic growth of the United States by supporting international entrepreneurs and ensuring compliance with fiscal adjustments.
Important Updates You Should Know
- Investment and Revenue Requirements: The guidance adjusts investment thresholds and clarifies annual revenue requirements for IER participants. These revisions are designed to maintain alignment with inflationary changes and market conditions, providing a fair but firm financial benchmark for foreign entrepreneurs seeking parole status in the U.S.
- Coordination of Biometrics: An important change in the policy now involves closer coordination with the U.S. Department of State for scheduling biometric appointments for applicants residing abroad. This step is crucial for streamlining the process for international entrepreneurs, offering them a clearer path to satisfying U.S. immigration requirements, whether they’re obtaining documentation from a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Automatic Increase: The new rule sets automatic triennial increase for investment and revenue requirements, ensuring that financial thresholds adapt to changing economic conditions without requiring frequent legislative or policy changes. These automatic increases apply to all new applicants under the IER beginning October 1, 2024.
Impact on Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs applying under the International Entrepreneur Rule must now meet the new, elevated financial thresholds to secure temporary entry into the U.S. This update enables foreign entrepreneurs who can demonstrate significant potential for economic growth and job creation to enter and work in the U.S. for up to five years.
The updated guidance further clarifies the minimum investment needed, which has been revised upwards, ensuring that foreign entrepreneurs have access to sufficient financial backing to launch and sustain high-impact startups. Entrepreneurs who meet the new thresholds will continue to enjoy the benefits of the program, including greater access to U.S. markets and opportunities for business expansion.
The Prospects for International Entrepreneur Rule
This update emphasizes the U.S. government’s commitment to promoting innovation and economic growth through entrepreneurship. With these updated requirements, the IER program remains a critical gateway for foreign founders seeking to contribute to the U.S. economy, especially in industries like tech, healthcare, and clean energy.
By aligning financial requirements with inflation and market realities, the USCIS aims to ensure the IER program remains sustainable and impactful, helping entrepreneurs drive job creation, investment, and innovation across the U.S.
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