Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

Hi

I have read through some of the threads and FAQ’s on this site but still need some advice / help.

I would really like to relocate my family and business to the USA (Wisconsin).

Could anyone email or give me a quick overview of what I would need to do. I’ll be a cash buyer for a property and have a substantial income from my business, which is globally based. I would look to employ people in the USA and rent office space.

How long does the process take?

When should I start applying? I’d be looking to move late 2005.

We have relatives who live in Chicago.

Thanks for any help offered.

Greg

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

research the E-2 visa.
although permanent residency cannot be gained on an e-2 visa.
so it has some pitfalls, such as your children will need to get their own visa upon turning 21 or move out of the country back to the country of origin.

If your business goes tits-up then you'll need to move back out of the country also.

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

www.uscis.gov is a good source of information from the government. Look for the investment based permanent residency.

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

Hi

My advise would be (if possible ) to keep your UK business going and apply for L1 (inter company transfer)

The L1 could convert to green card down the line and so protect your children

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

How much does one need to to invest to start up a business on the E2 ?

would a Software Consultantcy be sufficient as a business base (contracting to medium to small enterprises..)

FreeStyler

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

$100K at a ball park...but that doesn't get you a greencard starting your own business, and it goes up the swan, your out etc.
Check the visa requirements on the usciv site.

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

There are basically SEVEN 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 eligible) but parent birthplace may help

(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card) The business must have a minimum value of around $100k (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 $250k would be a nearer minimum

(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. And your background will be investigatedto 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…

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 $3k. 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
© Pulaski

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

MightBe <member29160@british_expats.com> wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    >
    > (4)You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens,
    > except N.Ireland are not eligible) but parent birthplace may help

Eligibility for the Green Card Lottery has nothing whatsoever
to do with your citizenship. If you replace the part in
parenthesis with "most people born in Britain are not eligible"
it would be much more accurate.

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

This was obviously and is stated to be very basic info ..

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

[QUOTE=t4tv]Hi


I would really like to relocate my family and business to the USA (Wisconsin).



Hi

Just to let you know the UK tax authorities will not allow you to move your business to the US

I know this as I wanted to do the same but UK accountants advised it would not be possible!!!!!!!!

The way that the Inland Revenue will see it is that they will loose revenue (income tax, paye, corporation tax , VAT etc., ) so not allow this to happen. You could wind up the UK side and start a simular company in the US, but NOT transfer it

As I mentioned before your best option is to keep the UK side trading, get L1 then green card.

Once you have your green card in your hand you can then sell/wind up the UK side but NOT transfer it

Regards Sue

Re: Moving Family and Business to USA?
 

To state that "UK citizens, except N.Ireland are not eligible" for the GC lottery is at best misleading - and at worst plain wrong - because 5-10% of British citizens have been born in eligible territories and *are* eligible to apply.

Why not change it to 'UK born persons' rather than 'UK citizens'.

It's well known that DV eligibility is based on birthplace, not citizenship.

Jeremy