What Is the International Entrepreneur Rule and Who Qualifies in 2026?
TL;DR: The International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) lets USCIS grant temporary "parole" — not a visa — to founders of a US startup that shows substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation. As of the FY2025 inflation adjustment (still current in 2026), you generally need at least $311,071 in qualified investment or $124,429 in government grants/awards, own at least 10% of the company, and play a central, active role in its operations.
Claim and evidence
IER parole is not a visa category — it's discretionary parole into the US under INA §212(d)(5), created by a 2017 DHS rule and periodically adjusted for inflation. To qualify, DHS requires the entrepreneur to: hold a significant ownership stake (at least 10%) in a US startup entity formed within the preceding 5 years, play a central and active role in its operations, and show the startup has substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation, demonstrated through qualifying investment, government funding, or other reliable and compelling evidence.
Current thresholds (FY2025 amounts, in effect through 2026)
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Qualified investor funding | $311,071 |
| Government award/grant | $124,429 |
| Revenue threshold for re-parole consideration | $622,142 (with 20%+ annualized growth) |
| Qualified investor's own track record (5-year total across investments) | $746,571, with at least 2 portfolio companies each creating 5+ jobs or reaching $622,142 in revenue |
DHS must adjust these figures for inflation every 3 years under the regulation; the FY2025 amounts took effect October 1, 2024, and remained the applicable figures through 2026.
Step-by-step: applying for IER parole
- Confirm your startup was formed within the past 5 years and that you own at least 10% of it.
- Document your central, active role — board membership or a title alone isn't enough; USCIS looks for evidence you're actively running day-to-day operations.
- Meet the funding threshold through qualified investors, government grants, or a combination, or build an alternative evidentiary case if you're short of the dollar amounts.
- File Form I-941, Application for Entrepreneur Parole, with evidence of ownership, role, and funding.
- If approved, you and up to 3 entrepreneurial team members can each receive initial parole of up to 30 months, extendable once for up to another 30 months if the startup shows continued growth.
FAQ
Is IER parole the same as a work visa? No. Parole is a discretionary permission to enter and remain in the US; it isn't a nonimmigrant visa status and doesn't by itself lead to a green card, though parolees can pursue other immigration options separately.
Can my co-founders also get parole under the same startup? Yes, up to two additional entrepreneurs (three total) can qualify under the same qualifying startup if each independently meets the ownership and role requirements.
What if I can't meet the exact dollar thresholds? DHS allows applicants to submit "other reliable and compelling evidence" of the startup's potential for growth and job creation if they fall short of the investment or revenue benchmarks.
Can my spouse work in the US while I'm on entrepreneur parole? Yes, a parolee's spouse can apply for their own employment authorization, though children cannot.
Sources: USCIS International Entrepreneur Rule guidance; DHS Federal Register notice on FY2025 IER inflation adjustment (July 25, 2024).
By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-08-03