411

That is exactly the case - a vehicle to get over to socal to live!

411

Quite right! but knowing a remote or vwp build is also likely in event of a denial is also comforting. I may up the frequency to 3 builds a year in my business plan. If the embassy can see I am producing multifamily homes. With Inventory being Land I should be ok for a 2year visa initially.

srefre

No need for the snarky remark about remotely understanding the businesses, just because you didn't like what I said.

In fact, my statement wasn't referring to the visa, more to the general running and success of the business. From my personal experience the best business people I know have a lot of experience in a particular field, if they do bother to get involved in other fields, they take a very back seat and let people with expertise in that particular field do most of the work for them.

My advice to you was to do the same, you seem to know a lot about real estate and construction, I would stick with that.

Also now that in this thread you mention that it is all just a vehicle to get to SoCal, it makes a lot more sense. In previous threads you were suggesting the primary motive was business and getting US residence was just a side benefit. I think knowing the real motive behind this explains why you are willing to investigate so many fields.

411

I started the thread to get specific response with regards to the Visa in relation to the business options, its very easy for threads to side track and I wanted to remain focused on the point.

I disagree with this philosophy. if I can help it I will never sit back and take a back seat to see a dwindled ROI for doing so. Thats quite indicative of the EB5.

I was seeking opinions not advice. People get offended whey you dont take their advice so I have learnt to try not to ask for it.


All I have done is researched it quite a bit. I am a UK landlord that affords me sufficient time to research other fields. When a contractor asks for $4500 for a permit that the city say will cost $1750, im sure anyone would be motivated by a $2750 saving for pulling the permits themselves. Equally when you can build a project for $500K which you could only buy at $800K again the $300K profit or saving is a motivating factor or if you can invest $500K and get a yearly income of $150K as opposed to 4K by taking a back seat for an EB5 Regional Centre to do all the work, I for one am certainly motivated to investigate the process.

You may be mistaken as that has never been the case or suggested by myself!

To attempt to collate information from other threads where you may have misunderstood the premise and to put them in an entirely new thread only serves to confuse matters. I have a good formula that I can only hope will work for consulate to issue my visa. If the visa is issued I will serve my sentence in the construction field, and hopefully be able to pursue my vocation in film. If denied I will serve my sentence in the construction field remotely as Boiler suggests is possible

I guess I could still refinance to inevitably purchase the Green card

scrubbedexpat099

I am sort of interested in how the permitting system works in LA, I only know how it works in my County/State. For the heating system we needed a state and county permit, go figure, electricity just state, the rest county.

Do keep us updated.

One that blind sided me was the Asbestos inspection, fortunately we had none. But it took time and money.

srefre

Do what you like with my advice, it makes no difference to me, I am able live and work in either the US or the UK whenever I want, so I have absolutely no horse in this race.
I offer my advice, as it may be useful, and I like to think it's easier to learn at other peoples expense. However like you say, you're completely free to ignore it, and if you think it's complete crap, that's fine, I won't be offended in any way.

Hence why I suggest specialisation, you clearly have done research in this particular area, and have knowledge of the field through what you have already done in the UK.

I don't disagree with the potential savings you suggest, but it depends what value you place on your time. For example whilst the contractor is making that $2750 from you, can you be making more or less than that through some other enterprise, which you have expertise in?
Of course visa limitations may restrict this scenario.

Maybe I am mistaken. I got my idea from the phrase:

"Its definitely the business opportunity, if it was just to sit and doss around then the EB5 would work just fine. Somehow because the real estate market contributed to the current crisis, I feel its almost a taboo to present a real estate based idea to them. Sometimes I feel the Visa Officer would feel like the british are using the strong pound to take advantage of the unfortunate real estate market in the US. "

Which was given in response to the:

Perhaps a good question to ask is what exactly you want to get out of this.
Is this simply a business opportunity to make money that just happens to be in the US or do you really want to live in the US (short term or long term?) and this is a way to make that happen?

However internet forums don't have the same emphasis that spoken word and face to face conversations have, so I may have misinterpreted what you intended that statement to mean.


Just using all the information available, seems sensible to me, providing its not become outdated?

Anyway, I don't want to drag this thread any more off topic than I already have done, so I genuinely wish you the best of luck in your enterprise, although I would suspect it would be talent rather than luck that gets the job done.

411

Srefre, thanks for your advice, but specialization is just not for me. I have financial freedom and dont have to work and have not done so for a while. Diversification has paid me well. I can also live in both countries on the vwp with frequent visits to britain due to my property. However I think its a little too early to put my feet up. A kind request, If I start a new thread could you not troll me out with unrelated and uncalled for advice. You are probably specialized and work 9 to 5 with company XYZ Ltd so our career paths are a little different.

ian-mstm

No, you can't.

Ian

411

A visa is obviously safer, but I dont think it guarantees much at the border either. Reading some of threads on this site even visa holders are being taken into the back office for additional questioning.

scrubbedexpat099

What do you mean by Visa?

The only way of having the flexibility to live in both countries as you choose is to have dual citizenship.

411

I think you are right. I have already got Dual nationality with another country. When entering that country I use one passport when returning to the UK I use my British passport. No questions asked either way.

ian-mstm

A visa is an entry document. It's the I-94 that determines how long you're allowed to remain in the US. Having a visa is no guarantee of entry... but it does allow you to knock on the door and ask permission to enter.

The only reason a visa is safer, is that it demonstrates an extra layer of scrutiny by the DOS... although that doesn't mean a whole lot to the CBP.

Okay... stepping away now!

Ian

fatbrit

Having read the thread, I'd carry on saving and go for an EB5 when you'll have enough left over to seed your own realty project. Trying to do it with an E2 will be like having one hand tied behind your back. As a permenant resident, you'll be on an almost even footing with your competitors.

411

Thanks for this short and to the point insight, I do agree. The only problem is that even a Regional Centre cannot gaurantee a green card. One lady on this forum has been waiting for 14 months for an i526 on a canam project. Since finding this out last week I am even more skeptical about the EB5 regional centers! She like any other EB5 investor will either
1. get a Green card without the return of the funds
2. get the funds but not a Green Card on denial of the i526 or i829
3. get a Green Card and the funds back as well

in all cases, 2 to 5 idle and anxious yrs will pass for the funds to be returned or be saved up again which would expose me to an additional risk that real estate prices and interest rates would move against me and I would be subjected to buying and developing at a premium.

I talked about upping the frequency to 3 builds a year to strengthen my E2 application but by my calculations, even with just 3 completed projects in a TEA Zone, 9 full time staff will be required on three 8hr shifts for each care home. With an additional daytime staff, the 10 qualifying employees for an EB5 will be met.

I think using this E2 plan for a self petitioned EB5 is not only safer but guarantees a better return. unlike the E2, you do not have to actually have spent any money to petition for an EB5 you just need the business plan. I will definitely aim for the residency you suggest but preferably through a self petitioned project.