TouristTrap

I did..that was brilliant..ROFLMAO!

ImHere

Everytime my neighbours comment on how many Brits there are here now I keep telling then we're taking back the states by stealth one at a time, Florida first.

glenfiddich

Your other main option is the E2 route - buy into a business. Personally I wouldnt do this even though a lot of starry eyed Brits do (and they all seem to come to Florida ) and you can expect to lay out over $100,000 for the pleasure, plus whatever moving/living cost you may have. This doesnt give you permanent residence status and is a lot of hard work and gambling on success (and the INS giving you visa renewals).


Hi, I am new to this forum...first posting. I am curious about this E2 route. I am observing the family member of a family member attempting to go to Florida on this visa...this is what I have observed from afar.

1) The father (age early 50's)has bought a business of some sort and went to Florida on a 3 month tourist visa to learn the trade. He has been there since March and it is now July. You do the math.
2) The wife and teenaged kids have sold their UK home and are waiting for this E2 visa and they applied for it in April. It is now the last week of July.
3) The wife has quit her job.
4) They are using a specialist of some kind to do the paperwork.
5) When the E2 visa comes through, the father will return to the UK, play some golf and then enter the US as a family with their E2 visa.

My gut tells me that this doesn't make sense.

What happens when people overstay their tourist visas? Isn't that frowned upon?

Also, is there a criminal records check that is required for the E2 visa.

Can anyone comment on this? I feel as though we are watching a train wreck.

Thanks for comments.

fatbrit

Yep -- it's a train wreck! Maybe he could sue one of those "move abroad" tv progs produced in Blighty to recoup some of the great loss he'll incur?

Bob

The overstay means he won't be able to use the VWP again, and depending on the length of the overstay, a 3-10 year ban on entering the states, from the 180 day mark, so he best head back before the 180 day mark, or the E visa will require a waiver, more money, time and hassle to get...

glenfiddich

What does VWp mean? Thanks for the reply.

fatbrit

visa waiver program

glenfiddich

Thanks...we are curious about a criminal records check. Is that required for the E2?

fatbrit

There's a criminal record check for a VWP, never mind an E2!

glenfiddich

What is the visa waiver programme exactly?

All I can say is that until you have the visa in your hot little hands...you shouldn't sell your house and quit your job etc. They have done this. I thought that first you get the visa and then you sell the house and quit your job. Just because they are using a lawyer doesn't garuntee that you will get the visa. It just means that your paper work will get to the embassy.

Question...do you get preapproval from the London Embassy and then when you land in the States, you are processed. Is that how you "get" the visa finalised?

fatbrit

If you come from certain countries and meet certain conditions, you can make a short trip for pleasure or business without having to apply for a visa before you come.

You need to get the visa in your passport before you come out to start the business. Sure, you can pop out on a VWP (providing you meet the conditions) beforehand to do your research. But you can't work the business on a visa waiver or even a B-1/2.

Taffyles

I said something similar to a coworker once- he flipping took me seriously and avoided me all week

glenfiddich

What you are saying is what I have been feelingl. I have lived outside my home country for 20 years now and I know about immigration in other countries.

So, if one overstays, when they leave the States, something to that effect with be stamped into their passport and something else probably entered into a computer. He thinks that he can just return here when his visa is ready and return with the family. There is a right way to be doing these things and short cuts often lead to large problems.

Can you tell me about the criminal records check that is required for a vwp and E2? This would be a Brit going to the States.

fatbrit

Yep -- I've done it in other countries, too. Places where you could get residence with a suitable gift and a happy smile! But I was young, free and stoopid in those days...

But the US, especially post 9/11, is not one of those places. No idea where the data for the criminal record checks comes from that is done for non-immigrant visas at the border. But people do get chained up and deported with no right of appeal on a regular basis these days. A small drug offense when you were young and irresponsible can be enough to have you in a holding cell.

glenfiddich

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I can only describe this person and his family as a typical Essex Chav. Get the picture? We know about his past. Something to do with putting a toothpick in an electrical meter and pumping petrol and driving off without paying. That kind of petty crime. We are more concerned for the elderly parents that are being lied too and will probably pay for this. The family were told that they would have their E2 in 6 to 8 weeks, about 16 weeks ago. The wife and 2 kids are living in a small semi with a relative and her young family. A lot of adults and kids. Is this E2 visa a done deal? If you fill out the form you can get it?

Thanks for the information and insight.