The International Entrepreneur Rule in 2026: The Short Version
The International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) is the closest thing the United States has to a startup visa: founders whose US startup raised at least $311,071 from qualified investors (or $124,429 in government grants) can get parole for up to 2.5 years, renewable once to 5 years total. It is alive and operating in 2026, with updated thresholds and a new fee. This guide covers the requirements and the fundraise that unlocks them, with the essentials on our US founder visa page.
The single most important thing to understand: IER eligibility is not a form you fill, it is a round you close. The US government effectively outsources the screening to investors, so your immigration strategy is your fundraising strategy.
What IER Is (And What It Is Not)
IER grants parole, a discretionary permission to enter and stay in the US, not a visa and not a green card. Practical implications:
- It works like a founder permit. You live in the US and run your startup full-time. Your spouse can apply for work authorization, and your spouse and children get parole with you.
- It does not directly lead to permanent residence. Founders typically use the 5 IER years to build toward an O-1A, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW petition, which are the real long-term routes.
- It is discretionary. USCIS can weigh negative factors even when you meet the thresholds, so a clean, well-documented application matters.
IER survived multiple administrations and was last overhauled in October 2024, which streamlined processing and confirmed the two 30-month parole periods. In 2026 it is a functioning, actively used route.
The 2026 Requirements
The thresholds adjust for inflation; these are the current figures:
| Requirement | 2026 standard |
|---|---|
| Qualified investment | $311,071+ from qualifying US investors |
| OR government funding | $124,429+ in qualified federal, state, or local awards/grants |
| Your ownership | At least 10% at initial adjudication |
| Your role | Central and active (a real operating founder, not a passive holder) |
| Startup age | US entity formed within the last 5 years |
| Parole fee | $1,020 (the new H.R. 1 parole fee, effective October 2025, inflation-adjusted) |
Three details founders miss:
- The investor must be "qualified". Broadly: US investors (VC firms, angels) with a track record of real investments and successful outcomes in recent years. A check from your cousin does not count; a check from an established US angel or fund does.
- Partial evidence has a fallback. If you fall somewhat short of the dollar thresholds, USCIS accepts "alternative reliable and compelling evidence" of growth potential. It is a harder path, but it exists.
- Up to 3 founders per startup can each apply on the same qualifying round.
The Timeline: 2.5 Years, Then the Re-Parole Test
- Initial parole: up to 30 months. Enough time to build, hire, and raise the next round.
- Re-parole: up to 30 more months if the startup shows continued growth: additional qualifying funding, revenue milestones, or US job creation.
- Maximum: 5 years total. By then, successful founders have usually built the track record that supports an O-1A (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver) petition, both of which are standard graduate routes from IER.
Treat the second 30 months as an exam you study for from day one: keep clean records of every hire, every revenue milestone, and every funding event.
The Real Requirement Is a Round: Where Round Funded Fits
Strip away the legal language and IER is a fundraising milestone: close roughly $311K+ from recognized US investors and the immigration door opens.
That makes investor targeting the whole game, and it is what Round Funded is built for: a database of 10,000+ active investors filtered by stage, sector, and geography, so you can specifically target US angels and funds with real track records, exactly the profile that counts as a qualified IER investor. AI-drafted outreach goes out from your own Gmail, with open and reply tracking to show you who is warm.
Browse 10,000+ active investors on Round Funded →
Start with the US investor directory and the top US angel investors list, both maintained for exactly this use case.
How IER Compares to Other Founder Routes
| Route | Capital bar | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| US IER | $311K raised (or $124K grants) | 2.5 + 2.5 years parole | Founders with US investor traction |
| O-1A visa | None (evidence-based) | 3 years, renewable | Founders with strong achievements |
| Ireland STEP | €50K secured | 2 + 3 years, Stamp 4 | EU base, English-speaking |
| Japan Startup Visa | None upfront | Up to 2 years, then Business Manager | Asia base, building toward 30M yen |
| Estonia Startup Visa | Minimal | 1 + years, EU access | Early-stage, low-cost EU entry |
The pattern: the US charges the highest toll and pays the highest reward. If your market, investors, and customers are American, the $311K round does double duty, it funds the company and unlocks the country. Compare all routes on the visa index.
How to Qualify for IER: Step by Step
- Read the current thresholds on Round Funded's US visa guide and confirm the basics: US entity under 5 years old, your 10%+ stake, your operational role.
- Form the US entity early (a Delaware C-corp is the investor-standard default). The 5-year clock and the investment both attach to the US company.
- Build a target list of qualified US investors in the Round Funded database: US-based funds and angels with real recent track records, filtered to your stage and sector.
- Run the raise as a pipeline. 100+ targeted contacts, personalized outreach, follow-ups on day 4 and day 10. Our cold email playbook covers the mechanics that get 5 to 10 percent reply rates.
- Document everything as you close: investment agreements, wire confirmations, investor track-record evidence. Your lawyer assembles these into the Form I-941 filing.
- File with the $1,020 parole fee and plan for your spouse's work authorization application after entry.
- Start the re-parole file on day one: jobs created, revenue growth, and follow-on funding are the benchmarks that buy years 3 through 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the International Entrepreneur Rule still active in 2026?
Yes. IER is operating in 2026, following the October 2024 modernization that confirmed the two 30-month parole periods and streamlined processing. Thresholds adjust annually for inflation: currently $311,071 in qualified investment or $124,429 in government awards. Current figures are tracked on /visa/usa.
How much investment do I need for IER?
At least $311,071 from qualified US investors, meaning established VC firms or angels with a documented track record of successful investments. Alternatively, $124,429+ in qualified government grants, or a harder "alternative compelling evidence" path if you fall short. Up to 3 co-founders can qualify on the same round.
Is IER a visa or a green card?
Neither. It is parole: permission to enter and work in the US for up to 2.5 years, renewable once (5 years max). Founders typically use those years to build the achievement record for an O-1A or EB-2 NIW, which are the durable statuses. Your spouse can get work authorization.
What counts as a qualified investor for IER?
A US-based investor (fund or individual) with a real recent track record, USCIS looks for a history of investments in startups that went on to succeed (revenue, jobs, or exits). This is why targeting recognized, active US investors matters: Round Funded filters 10,000+ investors by geography and activity so your round is built from checks that count.
How long does IER parole last?
An initial period of up to 30 months, plus a re-parole of up to 30 more if the startup shows continued growth in funding, revenue, or US jobs. The total ceiling is 5 years, which is the window to graduate to a longer-term status.
What does IER cost?
The parole fee is $1,020 in 2026 (the H.R. 1 fee introduced October 2025, adjusted annually), plus standard filing and legal costs. Compared to the O-1A or EB routes, the government fees are modest; the real cost of entry is the qualifying round itself.
Can I apply for IER before raising money?
Not realistically. The investment (or grant) evidence is the core of the application. The correct order: form the US entity, close $311K+ from qualified investors, then file. If the raise is the missing piece, treat it as a 100-contact outreach project with the Round Funded database before engaging immigration counsel.
Final Word
IER turns a seed round into a US work permit: $311K from recognized American investors buys 2.5 years, execution buys 2.5 more, and the achievements you stack buy the O-1A or NIW that follows. Founders who understand this run one integrated project, not two separate ones.
Start raising from 10,000+ active investors →
Your US round is your US visa. Find qualified investors on Round Funded.
