| Author |  Topic  |
mrsbabypowder
 USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline |  Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 16:12:57  
| ok - its a lot of people's dream - a new life - a new beginning - a new chapter. BUT if we could turn the clock back 3 years we would do it in a heartbeat.
Our last 3 years has been a total mess up - we came over to Florida in August 04. We sold literally everything - my husband gave up a very well paid job that he had had for the last 25 years. We have 3 children at the time they were 11, 6 and 3.
We had an immigration attorney - from the start. We came out with a big bank account - looking for a business - what i thought was a dream business turned into a nightmare not 3 weeks into buying it. Undeclared debt, inventory wrong - basically we lost nearly all our money trying to keep this business running. Having come here on a B1 visa (for the adults) and the visa waiver for the kids (great thinking American Embassy) we had to leave every 3 months (could we afford it? NO) We finally decided to sell the business - and sue the previous owner. Luckily we sold before the eviction notice took affect. With all the questions and lost paperwork that the US Embassy wanted in London, we decided before we sold that it wasn't worth getting the E2 visa. We were actually never called for it. We had the business exactly 13months. This was the worst time of my life - i failed - i lost all our money - it was my dream, it was my mistake. Because my husband didn't work in the business, it was my responsibility to keep it running - but i couldn't do it.
Anyhow we were lucky that we sold it - dream blown apart by a nuclear bomb.
We sued the previous owner and won, but hey guess what she is now declaring bankruptcy with a few other companies that she owes money to who are after her - will we get out money? Heck no.
My husband wanted to go back to England after we sold - but because i LOVED it i managed to hold it off. The money was going FAST - the cost of living is so high once you live here. We borrowed money from our UK bank account to fund the US bank account - now we are in the situation where we have little to none left in England and about the same in the US. We borrowed money to book flights back in August - this gave us time to sort our gorgeous house out.
We are taking a container home to England - as we will have nothing in England. Luckily we paid for this last year. We will go into rented accomodation, collect income support and try to start again.
MY MISTAKE WAS THINKING THAT THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE. It is only greener is you have enough money to live on without having to worry. It is fantastic coming here on vacations - but to live here - not in a million years.
I am by far not the only one. I have English neighbors that this has happened to - One sentance that i have come to treasure is "if somebody is selling a business it is usually failing - who would sell a business if it was making money?????"
I know i am going to get slammed by loads of people who think it is wrong to write the bad things about living in Florida - but this is my experience. I know what it is like first hand - for me - yes people make it - and have a wonderful life - but there are pitfalls in everything. Know what you are doing fully and understand the problems before hand. | | Report this post to a moderator |
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Clare R
United Kingdom
661 Posts
Joined: 25 May 2004
Status: offline | |
Robert5988
United Kingdom
1438 Posts
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Status: offline | |
Paula D-S
 United Kingdom
4409 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2005
Status: offline | |
mrsbabypowder
USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:02:01
| quote:
Originally posted by Clare R
Sorry to hear that the Dream did not work out for you but what exactly did your husband do if you were left to run 'the business'?
What are your children's feelings on having to leave the sunshine and returning to UK.
My husband was looking after the children and generally being a house husband. It was my decision to work, he had been working for the last 25 years and i wanted him to have a break. We purchased a Bridal Boutique and it wasn't really his thing!
My daughter who is nearly 15 is devastated. My boys now 9 and 6 with cute american accents are ok about it. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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mrsbabypowder
USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:02:55
| quote:
Originally posted by Robert5988
A very brave post.
Hopefully it might be a warning to others who want to pursue the dream.
Hope everything works out for you back in UK.
thank you for your words. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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mrsbabypowder
USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline | |
chrizzy100
 USA
7100 Posts
Joined: 26 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:03:53
| You find out very quickly when you move here that along with all the dreams comes a few nightmares....
Sorry to hear it did not work out like you planned Mrsbabypower...I don't know if you can take any comfort in knowing you are not alone....there are forums out there if you wish for a link where you can maybe tell your story to others thinking about moving...we could also give you some support...people to talk to who have gone back home...just give me a IM ....
I wish you lots of luck back home...I know many who have gone back with nothing and made a good life in the UK very quickly.... | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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andrewandcarole
 United Kingdom
2552 Posts
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Status: offline | |
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
 United Kingdom
17301 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Status: offline | |
florida4sun
 United Kingdom
6517 Posts
Joined: 16 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:34:56
| I do sympathise and this is a strong lesson for many, never buy a business without doing strict due diligence and never part with any money until the visa is granted (your attorney should not have let you do this). Most businesses aimed at E2 visa are not good businesses, if there were good there would be sold to citizens, without the hassle of selling to someone applying for a visa.
We lived there for 5 year and had to come back for different reasons, we would still be there if we had a choice. It is a fantastic place to make money and whilst I would not stay there forever, we did have a wonderful time and I would have loved another 5-10 years.
For anyone thin king of making the move, I would strongly advose keeping some property back in the UK. This makes the burden of moving back (which most folks do) much easier. |
Martin
Resident Ticket Guru
www.park-tickets.com
http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/sat-nav.aspx
www.orlandovillas.com
www.villasflorida.com
www.onlinefloridavillas.com
www.flightsflorida.com
www.floridahire.com | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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esprit
 USA
6886 Posts
Joined: 11 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 18:24:35
| I have to say if the business was so bad I am surprised that you managed to sell it and you were lucky to do so. Did it sell to another visa applicant or to a US citizen?
It was brave of you sharing that story, am sorry that you are going home without anything. It must be hard on your daughter, I know my teenage son quickly became an American and would take the pledge of allegiance tomorrow if he could. My story is somewhat different. The E2 business we bought was bad also, but we picked ourselves off the floor and started something else. We were there for nearly four years and though we had to leave late last year, it was due to visa renewal problems due to a technicality and nothing to do with the business we had which we also managed to sell. We were lucky and came home with considerably more than we went out with. I am currently in Portugal ( I would agree about keeping a property in the UK, Martin, the property ladder there had moved on without us!) but want to go back to Florida and will one day do that, it gets in your blood. My son was lucky enough to get his own visa to go back, international students visa, though his fees are very costly. As Chrissy says there are forums out there with returning to the UK sections where you can share your story and pick up some tips, if she hasnt already dm-ed you, let me know. |
Julie |
Edited by - esprit on 21 Jun 2007 18:26:04 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Cruella DeVilla
 USA
10570 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
Status: offline | |
mizzy
 United Kingdom
4399 Posts
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
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TonyBlenk
 Cyprus
631 Posts
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
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Nikki D
 United Kingdom
753 Posts
Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 21:51:49
| A really sad post, I hope you get your life back on track really soon. Sorry things went so wrong for you. Best of luck to you and your family for the future  |
Nikki D | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Kazzie
 United Kingdom
4153 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
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owen3
 United Kingdom
1678 Posts
Joined: 11 May 2005
Status: offline | |
Frosty
 USA
795 Posts
Joined: 15 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 03:15:58
| quote:
Originally posted by owen3
Sorry it did not work out for you Elaine, but at least you gave it a try.
Barbara
Mrs BP, at least you gave it a go, if you never had you would always have wondered.
And we got to meet because of it |
Neil & Kay | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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mrsbabypowder
USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 03:43:15
| quote:
Originally posted by esprit
I have to say if the business was so bad I am surprised that you managed to sell it and you were lucky to do so. Did it sell to another visa applicant or to a US citizen?
It was brave of you sharing that story, am sorry that you are going home without anything. It must be hard on your daughter, I know my teenage son quickly became an American and would take the pledge of allegiance tomorrow if he could. My story is somewhat different. The E2 business we bought was bad also, but we picked ourselves off the floor and started something else. We were there for nearly four years and though we had to leave late last year, it was due to visa renewal problems due to a technicality and nothing to do with the business we had which we also managed to sell. We were lucky and came home with considerably more than we went out with. I am currently in Portugal ( I would agree about keeping a property in the UK, Martin, the property ladder there had moved on without us!) but want to go back to Florida and will one day do that, it gets in your blood. My son was lucky enough to get his own visa to go back, international students visa, though his fees are very costly. As Chrissy says there are forums out there with returning to the UK sections where you can share your story and pick up some tips, if she hasnt already dm-ed you, let me know.
We were so lucky to sell the business. An American girl came in for a job one day - she had a lot of experience and used to work for the previous owner. ( a ray of sunshine i thought ) she told me that she was interested in buying the business as it was something she had always wanted ( her parents are rich - which was a blessing ) But things would get stressed for me because she would enter the store on the day it was closed to go through computers, files etc etc. when i found out i hit the roof. she got her attorney to write me a letter saying that the deal would be off if i stopped her entering the store. she had a very good attorney.......
anyhow she still ended up buying the business. And here we are today.
Chelsey my daughter wants to marry an American tomorrow if she could....i am trying.....he has to be wealthy, kind and loving (yes i put wealthy first)she would love to stay here - i have nightmares that she runs away the night before we go, just so she can stay here.....mmmm wake up Elaine....
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mrsbabypowder
USA
429 Posts
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 03:44:34
| quote:
Originally posted by andrewandcarole
A very brave post indeed.
I felt sick for you as I read it..........hope things look up when you get back to the UK.
Carole
thank you Carole. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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our big mistake moving to florida
