Advice wanted

[MichaelaJANE]

Hi, my family & I are planning to move to Florida sometime in the near future.

Currently, my father runs a small digital printing/pre-press/graphic design business at home. He has been in the business for most of his life, hes now 43.

My mother who is 42, also helps in the business, looking after the accounts. She has also worked for banks previously part-time on and off while myself and my sister were younger.

I am nearing 18 and my sister is 21. We all work for that fabulous company Sky at evenings :P In Customer Relations/Customer Care dealing with the letters received. My sister used to work with my dad also in the printing industry. I am looking into doing a course in Hairdressing.

My dad has always been interested in either owning a coffee shop or a subway. So we are looking into buying a subway in Florida thats already established, hopefully. Arent Subways just the best?

However, none of us have any clue as to how to go around applying, what to apply for ect. Can anyone give any advice? All members of my family are looking to invest in the business.

[Ray9]

There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:
(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.

(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience.

(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.

(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries
The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $450k would be a nearer minimum

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt.

(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years?

(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation

(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.
The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime


Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this ..
But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent
Originator.. Pulaski
Updater.. Ray 7/23/05

[esprit]

As your sister is 21 and would not be considered a dependant on any visa, your best bet is purchase a business on E2 visa, either a trading Subway or a new franchise direct from the franchisor, the second is a little harder to get as you have to go on business plan not accounts and you need to put money for premises, equipment etc into escrow as the purchase price alone may not satisfy the substantial investment rules Your dad and your sister should buy the business 50/50 as that will give her a visa, with your mom as E2 dependant which will give her the right to work after she has obtained authorisation and you as E2 dependant with no possibility of work. I would suggest you go to college and do a qualification in business or catering, Mom and Dad need to build the business up nice and big so by the time you are 21 they can justify taking you on as an E2 manager and essential employee. Or they buy the neighboring franchise in your name and get you your own E2. Meanwhile you and your sister date every Yank you meet, marriage is by far your best way to getting green cards!!

I cannot post links but google Florida businesses for sale, franchises for sale, Florida business brokers or even Subways for sale.

As your father has an existing business the L1 route is possible, though it seems to me to be home run with just your mom as employee and he would need to take a manager and employees on and keep it trading for at least a year in order to justify an inter company transfer visa. This route would also not help your sister as at 21 she would not be included on an L1 visa.

[MichaelaJANE]

Thank you very much

Your information would be very helpful.

I have one question though. "and you as E2 dependant with no possibility of work." Does that mean that I cannot work at all? Because I do wish to make my own money, and ofcourse at this time my parents will be considering me as an adult fully being 18 I'll be required to pay "digs" :P.

[esprit]

No E2 dependant children dont get a social security number or permission to work. My son was E2 dependant and would have loved a job like his friends. He only finally got a social security number when he changed status to F1 international student at age 21 when his E2 dependant status expired and even now can only work on his university campus where he was lucky enough to get a job in the bookstore. If you change status to E2 manager, you will be able to work but only in your parents business. The only way for you to get a proper job is to go the college, sponsorship for a job and employment visa route, you will need to do something they need and will sponsor you for, nursing is the common one. Or if you marry an American..... As an E2 holder your sister will be able to work but only in your Subway. This aint easy, if it was everyone would be doing it!

[MichaelaJANE]

Thank you very much.

I've been looking into courses at The University of Central Florida, which I am informed is not too far away from where we'd like to live.

Can I change my status at any time? And does your son register as an international student or a Florida resident? Or does he pay resident fees or international?

Resident fees are far more cheaper :P

[esprit]

You can go to college as an E2 dependant until you are 21. You pay residents rates as an E2 dependant, but only after 12 months in the US as there is a 12 month qualifying period for residency. I would suggest you look at Valencia Community college, you can do your first two years of your degree there and transfer to UCF for year 3, much easier to get into without previous US education,and cheaper, even American kids go this route if they have no scholarship. This is what my son did. When you turn 21, your educational establishment has to fill in forms to sponsor you as an international student and you change status to F1, you cannot stay as E2 dependant after 21 as your status just expires. As soon as this happens you start to pay international students rates as my son does, but you get a social security number and can work part time up to 20 hours a week but only on campus.

[MichaelaJANE]

Thank you very much for all your help.

I have just however had a private message on another forum from a guy stating that as I will be over 18 I will not qualify for an E2 visa therefore I will have to apply as a partner in the business kindoff thing or apply in my own right another way. Is this right? I thought it was until 21?

[christhear]

Espirit knows what she is talking about and she has been there and done it, i would think that her reply is the correct one.

[MichaelaJANE]

Yeah, I can tell from her replies that she seems very knowledgable.

As soon as I got that message i was a bit like . . . what? I just wanted to clerify that the information given was incorrect for sure.