This week Capitol Hill was abuzz with events supporting the recently introduced Start Up Visa program.  NVCA joined several founders of the Start Up Visa grass roots initiative including Brad Feld, Dave McClure, Eric Ries, and Shervin Pishevar at a string of meetings including:

• A Congressional staff briefing hosted by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rep. Lincoln Diaz –Balart (R-FL) to discuss ways in which the EB-5 Visa program can be reformed to attract foreign entrepreneurs to build their companies in the United States.  Rep. Polis was the first to introduce the Start Up Visa program last fall as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP).  The program would create visas for immigrant entrepreneurs who have received venture capital investment to start their companies in the U.S.
• A White House event where we met with Administration officials with direct responsibility for immigration matters and technology development, as well as representatives from the Departments of Commerce, State and Homeland Security. 
• A meeting at the SBA where we met with the Deputy Administrator, head of legislative affairs and the chief liaison to the high growth company community. 

The Start Up Visa movement has gained significant momentum in the last several months, thanks in large part to the grass roots campaign championed by members of the venture capital and entrepreneurial communities. NVCA has long supported rational immigration reform so that foreign born entrepreneurs are encouraged to build their companies in the US. 

This week’s meetings opened many doors, giving us access to those influencers who have a strong interest in moving the Start Up Visa program forward.  While comprehensive immigration reform seems to be a Herculean task, there is the possibility of seeing modest modifications to immigration policy in bills such as those introduced in the House and Senate. 

While many people see the Start Up Visa initiative as an immigration issue, Members of Congress view this as an arrow in the quiver of U.S. job creation. We are thankful that Rep Polis and Diaz-Balart in the House and Senators Kerry and Lugar in the Senate for leading the charge and hope that Congress is able to make space for this important legislation this year.

Questions or comments?  Please email Jennifer at jcdowling (at) nvca (dot) org.