Hi everybody,
Is there anybody out there who is currently living in the US on a E2 visa ?
If there is, how long have you had it, do you find any drawbacks through having just the E2 rather than a Green Card ?
Any comments on pros and cons would be most appreciated.
Neil
I am. I am one year into a 5 year E2 visa, Pros. None except that you only have to renew every two or five years wheras it is one or three on the L visa. Cons aplenty. Never converts to green card. You cannot sell your business. You cannot cease trading. If trade goes down you wont get through renewal. You can never retire, Your kids are have to go home at 21 or at 18 if they dont go to college. There are courses which are limited access that your kids cannot do. You cant get homestead exemption. E2 holders cannot work outside of the business ( E2 spouses can with employment dispensation but E2 kids cant even get a holiday job0. You pay into medicare but cannot claim it. You have no status, as a non resident alien, you dont even live here, you still live in the UK. Administrative barriers are erected in front of you every way you turn. You pay taxes and social seuurity but can claim nothing. You are tolerated as long as you employ Americans and pay taxes and that is your only purpose here.
It is a visa without a future which goes nowhere and on which you have to work until you drop tied to the business which is the vehicle of your visa.
Green card, you can do everything a US citizen can do except vote. It is renewed 10 yearly, Not much comparision, is there??