Washington,
D.C. — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation
economy CEOs and senior executives, today expressed its support for preserving the
International Entrepreneur Rule, designed to encourage entrepreneurs from
around the world to grow companies and jobs in the United States. The International Entrepreneur Rule was set
to go into effect on July 17, 2017, but the Department of Homeland Security
delayed the effective date to March 14, 2018, and issued a proposal to rescind
the rule altogether.
“Delaying
or rescinding the International Entrepreneur Rule would be a major step
backward for America’s innovation economy,” said TechNet
President and CEO Linda Moore. “Our nation should be encouraging
entrepreneurs from around the world to start companies and grow jobs in the
United States. The administration should allow the International Entrepreneur Rule to
take effect in March of next year as planned and work with Congress on other
ways to modernize our nation’s legal immigration system to ensure the U.S.
remains at the forefront of the innovation economy.”
As part of its support for the
International Entrepreneur Rule, TechNet today joined the National Venture
Capital Association’s multi-trade coalition in submitting formal comments to
the Department of Homeland Security urging it to keep the rule and use the new
effective date delay period to prepare for receiving applications from
entrepreneurs abroad beginning in March 2018.
The
full text of the letter is below and a PDF is available here.