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New Visas for Startup Entrepreneurs and Essential Employees

This act introduces new visa categories for foreign entrepreneurs and their essential employees looking to establish or grow startups in the U.S. The goal is to foster job creation and economic growth. Family members of these individuals can also obtain residency and work authorization.
Key points
Establishes new "W" visas for startup founders and their essential employees, facilitating their entry and stay in the U.S.
Entrepreneurs with at least a 10% ownership in a startup that has secured significant investments or grants may qualify for a visa.
Essential employees can obtain a visa if the startup employs them in executive or managerial capacities.
Spouses and children of "W" visa holders can also obtain residency, and spouses are additionally authorized to work.
The act provides a pathway to permanent residency for entrepreneurs who meet specific criteria for job creation and funding acquisition.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_4681
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Process start date: 2021-07-26
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

LIKE Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_4681.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-07-26.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Establishes new "W" visas for startup founders and their essential employees, facilitating their entry and stay in the U.S.
  • Entrepreneurs with at least a 10% ownership in a startup that has secured significant investments or grants may qualify for a visa.
  • Essential employees can obtain a visa if the startup employs them in executive or managerial capacities.
  • Spouses and children of "W" visa holders can also obtain residency, and spouses are additionally authorized to work.
  • The act provides a pathway to permanent residency for entrepreneurs who meet specific criteria for job creation and funding acquisition.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Migration Economy Labor