Visa advice

[Susie75]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the website and I'd be grateful for your advice.

We live in the UK and want to emigrate to USA and to Florida in particular (am sure you've all read that once or twice before!)

My sister and I are seriously considering buying a business in the hope that we will be granted an e2 visa. We have just under $200k but that's for everything. Business, accomodation etc (and this basically means selling everything we own in the uk) I have done some reading and seen both success and failure stories. What I'd really like to know is, do those of you who have been through this process think its worth it? We know that under e2 rules we'll never been able to apply for a GC and that approx every 2yrs you have to re-apply for the visa and if it doesnt meet the criteria then you basically have to pack up and leave.

I am married with two kids under 5 and my hubbie works in IT as an Oracle Developer. He is educated to degree level and has work in the IT industry for 12+ years. We have seen a number of positions available for jobs in Florida and he has sent his resume to the companies and been told on more than one occasion that they don't offer sponsorship but said that once in the US to contact them again!! So what Im wondering is, having done some research I think Im right in saying that if we were granted the e2 he could apply for a work permit and work in the states pretty much doing whatever he wanted.

My other question besides the is it all worth it one is, are there employers out there who might consider assisting my husband down the green card route if he were already in the states and they'd hire him? Just wondering if it'd be worth looking at that as a side to the e2.

Any input would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Sue

[twostep]

Originally Posted by Susie75

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the website and I'd be grateful for your advice.

We live in the UK and want to emigrate to USA and to Florida in particular (am sure you've all read that once or twice before!)

My sister and I are seriously considering buying a business in the hope that we will be granted an e2 visa. We have just under $200k but that's for everything. Business, accomodation etc (and this basically means selling everything we own in the uk) I have done some reading and seen both success and failure stories. What I'd really like to know is, do those of you who have been through this process think its worth it? We know that under e2 rules we'll never been able to apply for a GC and that approx every 2yrs you have to re-apply for the visa and if it doesnt meet the criteria then you basically have to pack up and leave.

I am married with two kids under 5 and my hubbie works in IT as an Oracle Developer for a small private bank in Fleet St. He is educated to degree level and has work in the IT industry for 12+ years. We have seen a number of positions available for jobs in Florida and he has sent his resume to the companies and been told on more than one occasion that they don't offer sponsorship but said that once in the US to contact them again!! So what Im wondering is, having done some research I think Im right in saying that if we were granted the e2 he could apply for a work permit and work in the states pretty much doing whatever he wanted.

My other question besides the is it all worth it one is, are there employers out there who might consider assisting my husband down the green card route if he were already in the states and they'd hire him? Just wondering if it'd be worth looking at that as a side to the e2.

Any input would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Sue

What kind of business for 200k brings enough profit to support at least three adults and two kids? What do you plan to use to move, set up household, pay deposits, purchase vehicles, pay insurances and groceries?
Your husband was brushed off. A friend of mine is going through a similar scenario - he can outsource himself for up to 90 days or so as long as the contractor job is business related. No company, no recruiter is willing to touch him with a ten foot pole. And his IT experience is impressive.

[Blueskies2]

Originally Posted by Susie75

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the website and I'd be grateful for your advice.

We live in the UK and want to emigrate to USA and to Florida in particular (am sure you've all read that once or twice before!)

My sister and I are seriously considering buying a business in the hope that we will be granted an e2 visa. We have just under $200k but that's for everything. Business, accomodation etc (and this basically means selling everything we own in the uk) I have done some reading and seen both success and failure stories. What I'd really like to know is, do those of you who have been through this process think its worth it? We know that under e2 rules we'll never been able to apply for a GC and that approx every 2yrs you have to re-apply for the visa and if it doesnt meet the criteria then you basically have to pack up and leave.

I am married with two kids under 5 and my hubbie works in IT as an Oracle Developer. He is educated to degree level and has work in the IT industry for 12+ years. We have seen a number of positions available for jobs in Florida and he has sent his resume to the companies and been told on more than one occasion that they don't offer sponsorship but said that once in the US to contact them again!! So what Im wondering is, having done some research I think Im right in saying that if we were granted the e2 he could apply for a work permit and work in the states pretty much doing whatever he wanted.

My other question besides the is it all worth it one is, are there employers out there who might consider assisting my husband down the green card route if he were already in the states and they'd hire him? Just wondering if it'd be worth looking at that as a side to the e2.

Any input would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Sue

Hi, my sister and OH went to the USA on a E2 Visa 25 years ago. they are never entitled to health care ,they need private health insurance, (expensive) You now have to leave the USA and go to USA consulate in London every time to renew your E2, and renewal is expensive. Before they could renew in the USA.They are now close to 70 years old and still have to work and employ Americans to stay in the states. Because of ill health my sister can no longer afford the very expensive premiums for health insurance and her treatment is bankrupting them.
Their business is suffering because of the the monetary crisis there, so they will not be in a position to qualify again next Oct 2012 on renewal.
Really sad situation as they love it there and have made some special friends.
They now have no choice but to return to the UK,with what little money they have left from the sale of their house at a very much reduced price . House prices have crashed.
They tried all ways to get a green card but were never allowed to have one.
They only had themselves to consider no children, I think you would need a lot more money to take the chances with two young children . As I understand it an E2 is only for people who will be self employed and employ a number of Americans. I am just telling as it is for my sister.

Sincerely Babs