Massachusetts New Immigration Refrom Supports Foreign-Born, US- Educated Entrepreneurs

16 Apr 2014

Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Governor, has unveiled new immigration reform to allow foreign entrepreneurs educated in US to stay in the country, through the Global Entrepreneur in Residence (GER) Program administered by the Massachusetts Tech Collaborative (Mass Tech).

According to the proposal, foreign students who studied in Massachusetts and are keen to stay as entrepreneurs in the state are eligible to enroll in the GER program. Selected individuals will then be placed by Mass Tech at private and public universities in Massachusetts participating in the GER program. Placed individuals can work part-time at the same time apply for visas sponsored by their new employers.

The new proposal, which is aimed at simplifying visa process for entrepreneurs by getting around the H-1B cap, is expected to be supported by the Democrat-controlled Senate and House of Massachusetts. As the higher educational institutions are exempted from the H-1B visa cap and are allowed to apply for visas for their workers at any time during the year, foreigners employed by such institutions have enhanced chances of obtaining visas compared to those employed through private sector.

Patrick's proposal is expected to address entrepreneur emigration from the US along with filling the gap aroused due to delay in the movement of an immigration reform bill that passed the Senate in June. However, the bill that is now caught up in the House would boost the availability of number of H-1B visas for immigrants with higher degrees along with creating a new startup visa class for foreign entrepreneurs.

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