City Visas: The Right Way to Lure Talent?

"Should specific cities get to offer visas in order to lure in talented immigrants? That depends on who you ask. But it's a strategy some cities are considering."

"Take Detroit. In late January, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder suggested that Congress make 50,000 visas available over five years to bring a talent boost to the distressed city. The visas would be made available under the EB-2 category, which is for immigrants holding advanced degrees or exceptional talents in business, science, or the arts."

The blog goes on to discuss the possibilities of this proposal for Detroit and also raises the point that city-specific visas have been suggested for prosperous metros as well, including London and New York. ("What if we swapped Detroit for London or for New York? Would you still be in favor?")