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E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Old Aug 19th 2018, 6:47 pm
  #31  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by S Folinsky
A good experienced attorney you may want to consult with is J Craig Fong of Fong & Aguino in Pasadena California.

From what you post, my reaction is that it may very well be doable. Good luck.
Thank you for this contact, much appreciated.
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Old Aug 19th 2018, 6:48 pm
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by Boiler
I can see issues, hopefully a combination of a well worked business plan and competent legal advice can resolve them.
Cheers. Could you please highlight potential issues? or the areas I have to take professional help.
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Old Aug 19th 2018, 6:55 pm
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Thank you all for the attorneys' contacts given so far.
Could anyone please recommend an immigration attorney (specialist in E2 matters) and setting up business in Dallas/FW area?
After doing some research, local knowledge helps a lot in business plan preparation for E2 cases. As Jack8602 mentioned above, this area has a better chance of success for my business idea.
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Old Aug 20th 2018, 7:00 am
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

I have been in the EXACT same position as you 3 years ago. Luckily, thanks to my lawyer, the E2 got approved however it has been difficult to get customers over here. Sadly my business did not make as much money or hire as many people and thus the renewal is not an option and my visa expires very soon
It's difficult. VERY. They all want to know your visa status and they have not even heard of E2 and then they think you mean E3 (Australian).... by law really they have no right in asking but they do ask.

its tough. Spent a ton of money and didn't quite work out.

But Im grateful for having made it this far
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Old Aug 20th 2018, 1:47 pm
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by GeorgeSpark
Thanks Jack8602. Do you know if any Banking/Financial sector employers in Dallas/FW direct hiring contractors? Or as usual, we need to go via PS (preferred supplier) agencies?
(In London, we have to always go via few layers of agencies especially with biggies..)
I can't speak to that fully, but i know there are many contract direct hires around DFW, and there's a fair few banking and financial services offices around. A good site for contract openings - https://www.dice.com/
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Old Aug 21st 2018, 7:20 am
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

I got my E2 visa for a consulting business (startup) from the London embassy earlier this year. I had 15 years relevant (non-US) experience.

Some points:
- definitely get a lawyer who knows the London process
- you as the individual who has the experience building and running a consulting business should be the main applicant. Part of the application is to demonstrate your capability, especially for a startup. The main applicant will be the person answering the questions at the interview about the business plan and needs to be credible.
- since it’s a startup, a very detailed business plan is required. How are you going to get clients without existing relationships? This was the key question they focused on with me. We came to the conclusion that they really don’t favour startups and prefer applicants who buy existing businesses with existing revenue streams.
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 6:59 pm
  #37  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by lastchance
I have been in the EXACT same position as you 3 years ago. Luckily, thanks to my lawyer, the E2 got approved however it has been difficult to get customers over here. Sadly my business did not make as much money or hire as many people and thus the renewal is not an option and my visa expires very soon
It's difficult. VERY. They all want to know your visa status and they have not even heard of E2 and then they think you mean E3 (Australian).... by law really they have no right in asking but they do ask.

its tough. Spent a ton of money and didn't quite work out.

But Im grateful for having made it this far
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am also going to try out my luck. If it is not working, we can always come back home - not a big deal.
Could you please share your lawyer details? If you prefer, please PM to me. Thanks.
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 7:04 pm
  #38  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by Silvergirl
I got my E2 visa for a consulting business (startup) from the London embassy earlier this year. I had 15 years relevant (non-US) experience.

Some points:
- definitely get a lawyer who knows the London process
- you as the individual who has the experience building and running a consulting business should be the main applicant. Part of the application is to demonstrate your capability, especially for a startup. The main applicant will be the person answering the questions at the interview about the business plan and needs to be credible.
- since it’s a startup, a very detailed business plan is required. How are you going to get clients without existing relationships? This was the key question they focused on with me. We came to the conclusion that they really don’t favour startups and prefer applicants who buy existing businesses with existing revenue streams.
Very good advice. Thanks.
If you don't mind, please share your lawyer details? If you prefer, please PM to me.

I approached a few London based lawyers. They quoted their fees alone £6000 +VAT and some charges £2000+VAT on top for business plan help. This is not including visa/embassy fees.
It looks very high amount to me. Is this exorbitant fee justifiable in terms of the work they do for the E2 visa?
Or just because we are going to invest $90K - "you can afford it, just pay me what I ask" :-(

Please share your thoughts. Thanks

Last edited by GeorgeSpark; Aug 23rd 2018 at 7:07 pm.
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 7:17 pm
  #39  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

90k would be low generally for an E2 so perhaps it looks high in the context, might argue that a low investment equates to more work needed to ensure a success.
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 7:19 pm
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Apparently, someone in this forum posted that he has done DIY their E2 and then further a few years later EB5 too without lawyers... Other members (Ray) asked him to put the details on the web so that others can find it useful. But I could not find further details. Has anyone seen that thread?
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 7:27 pm
  #41  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

I guess visa forms filling, writing a business plan, growth plan and projected revenues, etc can't be that hard.. (In any case, with or without lawyer help, an E2 investor should know these things thoroughly, isn't it?)

Last edited by GeorgeSpark; Aug 23rd 2018 at 7:29 pm.
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Old Aug 23rd 2018, 7:47 pm
  #42  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Originally Posted by GeorgeSpark
I guess visa forms filling, writing a business plan, growth plan and projected revenues, etc can't be that hard.. (In any case, with or without lawyer help, an E2 investor should know these things thoroughly, isn't it?)
That very much depends on your level of expertise, so lets say you are capable with adequate search doing it yourself, would not your time be better spent doing what you do know, what you can make money at?

Not sure I see a connection with the investment and the fees involved, well as I have suggested maybe inversely.
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Old Aug 24th 2018, 9:34 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: E2 - IT Consulting business - Please guide..

Upto you if you want to try it yourself. I don't think it's at all worth it if you're thinking of gambling $100k in the US. You're going to be spending a hell of a lot more than that to set yourself up, not including lawyer fees.

The numbers you quote don't seem so unusual to me.
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