International Entrepreneur Parole Lawyer: A U.S. Path for Venture-Backed Startup Founders

Eligibility requirements

• A qualifying U.S. startup. The company must have been formed in the United States within the five years before you file, be lawfully doing business, and show substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation.
• Ownership. You must own at least 10% of the company when USCIS decides the application (at least 5% for re-parole).
• A central and active role. You must be well placed, through your knowledge, skills or experience, to substantially help the company grow.
• Funding. Within the 18 months before filing, the startup must have received at least $311,071 from qualified U.S. investors, or at least $124,429 in awards or grants from federal, state or local government entities. Founders who partly meet these amounts can offer other reliable and compelling evidence of the company’s growth potential.
• Qualified investors. Investors must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or U.S.-controlled entities with a track record: at least $746,571 invested in startups over the past five years, with at least two of those companies each creating five or more qualified jobs or reaching $622,142 in revenue with 20% average annual growth. Friends and family money usually does not qualify.
• Household income. While on parole, your household income must stay above 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Up to three founders. No more than three entrepreneurs can be paroled based on the same startup.

Dollar amounts are the thresholds USCIS set on October 1, 2024; they are updated every three years for inflation. Sources: USCIS International Entrepreneur Rule; 8 CFR 212.19.

How the process works

1. Eligibility and evidence review. We review the cap table, investment or grant documents, investor track records and your role, and identify gaps before anything is filed.
2. File Form I-941. The founder files Form I-941, Application for Entrepreneur Parole, with the USCIS filing fee (currently $1,200) and attends biometrics. A spouse and children apply separately on Form I-131.
3. Travel and parole. If USCIS approves, a founder abroad obtains a travel document through a U.S. consulate, and Customs and Border Protection decides whether to parole them in at the port of entry. Since October 16, 2025, a $1,000 immigration parole fee also applies when a person is paroled in.
4. Working in the U.S. The founder may work only for the startup. A spouse can apply for a work permit on Form I-765; children cannot work.
5. Re-parole. To stay up to 30 more months, the startup generally must show another $622,142 in qualified investment or grants, five new full-time qualified jobs, or $622,142 in annual revenue with 20% average annual growth.
6. Ongoing duties. Founders must report material changes, such as a drop in ownership, a change in role or the company closing, and parole can be terminated.

Entrepreneur Parole compared with other founder options

Planning the path to a green card

Parole buys time; it does not lead to permanent residence on its own. Many founders pair it with a longer-term plan, such as an EB-2 National Interest Waiver or EB-1A petition, an EB-5 investment, or a later move to O-1 or H-1B status. Because parole is not a visa status, some of those moves require processing at a U.S. consulate, so the order of steps matters. We map the full sequence at the start.

International Entrepreneur Parole questions

Is International Entrepreneur Parole a visa?

No. It is a grant of parole, which lets you enter and stay in the United States for a set period for a significant public benefit. It does not give nonimmigrant visa status or permanent residence, and USCIS decides each case in its discretion.

How much funding does my startup need?

At least $311,071 from qualified U.S. investors, or at least $124,429 in U.S. government grants or awards, received within the 18 months before filing. Founders who partly meet these amounts can qualify with other reliable and compelling evidence of the startup’s growth potential.

Can my spouse and children come with me?

Yes. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be paroled with you. Your spouse can apply for a work permit; your children cannot work but can attend school.

Can I get a green card through Entrepreneur Parole?

Not directly. Founders usually plan a separate route, such as EB-2 NIW, EB-1A or EB-5, and the right order of steps depends on your category and history.

Is the International Entrepreneur Rule still available in 2026?

Yes. DHS proposed ending the rule in 2018 but withdrew that proposal in 2021. USCIS continues to accept Form I-941 using the investment thresholds it updated on October 1, 2024.