The BBC last month announced that officials in the US would welcome in the new year by looking at an overhaul of their immigration system with a particular focus on the retention of foreign entrepreneurs within the country.

According to the article and statistics from Duke University research, almost half of all people founding tech companies Stateside originated from the otherside of the pond.  Whilst Silicon Valley has as a result seen the launch of many great web start-ups, due to existing visa restrictions many have had to move to other countries where they can secure a long term visa.  More and more, foreign immigrants who have been educated in the American University system, are leaving and helping to grow the economies of countries such as China and India because they have failed in securing a residents visa.

The original visa established in 1990, will be refined to allow applicants that fullfil the following criteria to remain in the country:

• $250, 000 in venture capital from a company primarily based in America
• or $100 000 from an Angel investor
• A business plan that shows the potential to create in the order of 5 - 10 new skilled jobs
• or generate a profit and at least $1m in revenue

Although these are far from set in stone, for many tech entrepreneurs who need to set up in Sillicon Valley to make their ventures work, the prospects seem bright.