The Startup Visa: Create Jobs, Get A Green Card

A bill introduced today in the Senate by Democrat John Kerry and Republican Richard Lugar proposes a new type of visa for immigrants who create startups and jobs in the U.S. A similar proposal is part of an immigration reform bill in the House. The Startup Visa Act of 2010 would create a two year visa for immigrant entrepreneurs who are able to raise a minimum of $250,000, with $100,000 coming from a qualified U.S. angel or venture investor. After two years, if the immigrant entrepreneur is able to create five or more jobs (not including their children or spouse), attract an additional $1 million in investment, or produce $1 million in revenues, he or she will become a legal resident.The bill would carve out a new “EB-6″ class of visas from the existing “EB-5″ class of visas which has a higher threshold for becoming a legal resident. So it’s not really that radical. The EB-5 requires immigrants to invest at least $1 million in the U.S. and employ ten people.

Read the full story on the Washington Post

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Farmers, critics divided over proposed migrant workers bill

Federal lawmakers are considering a bill that proponents say would help to stabilize the migrant work force on which Michigan agriculture depends.

If it passes, the bill will legalize about 1.5 million undocumented agricultural laborers over five years. The bill also proposes making the federal H-2A program that gets foreign workers into the country legally less burdensome. It would allow illegal workers to apply for a blue card (temporary residency) and eventually get a green card visa (permanent residency).

Immigration reform is a priority for the Obama administration, but with so many other issues on the table, it’s unclear when lawmakers will get to it. And, if a comprehensive reform of immigration is not reached, it’s unknown if Congress will vote on the piecemeal bill, experts say.

read the full story at detnews