Current conditions and situations of E1 visa

[puz]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and I want to move to the states soon.

I work in my family's business and we're trying to get an E1 visa for the company and if we do, I'll be the one sent to the states.

The way I understand, I'll have to start a company with the same name as the mother company in the states, but will the daughter company have to import the mother's company products to the states? Let's say that the mother company is exporting tiles to the states, will I be able to start a company that deals with real estate company?
If that's ok, wouldn't it clash with the business plan we'll show to the consulate? Would the government be bothered if the business in america will prosper but in a different field than originally intended?

Also, is it possible to apply for a green card with an E-1 visa? Our lawyer says yes, but I want to make sure.

[peter gold]

Welcome and good luck
It is always difficult to comment when a poster has retained an attorney but it seems as if you are going in the right direction towards a green card

[puz]

Thank you.

I'm not sure what you mean.
Are my questions legal or illegal? I wouldn't want to do anything against the law and the lawyer who we apply for the visa with wasn't clear about my questions.

Thanks again.

[mr&mrssunshine]

you sure you mean e1 and not L1 ??

[puz]

Yes, it's an E1, not L1.

[peter gold]

You may have misunderstood my post
You have an atty to advise you so if we disagree with his advice (which I do not) then who are you to believe
Your E1 leads to a green card providiing the company is properly set up and still trading with profits and needing a manager executive or supervisory person
If your atty does not know the answer to the simple questions I would question your choice of atty Is he s Board Certified Immigration Atty in the State where he/she practises?

[puz]

I always ask for other people's opinion, you can never lose to hear what other people have to say.
I actually forgot to ask my lawyer some questions, so I thought I'd ask them here before my next appointment with her.

She's supposed to be a good aty, she already got the company a visa in 2006 (unfortunately we missed the renewal date by 5 months), however no representative of the company was sent to America.

I'm not concerned about the Green Card (it's a huge bonus, of course) as much as I'm concerned about what happens if the business go in a different direction than intended in our business plan. Will I be able to renew my visa?
I thought this is a good place to ask because it seems like a lot of people here came to the states on an e1/e2.

Thanks again for your quick replies.

[mr&mrssunshine]

i have to say i am no expert on e1`s but the reason i queried it is because you ask

"[I]but will the daughter company have to import the mother's company products to the states? Let's say that the mother company is exporting tiles to the states, will I be able to start a company that deals with real estate company?
If that's ok, wouldn't it clash with the business plan we'll show to the consulate?"[/I

I found this on another website
The E1 Treaty Trader:
Nationals of qualifying Treaty countries who undertake a significant amount of international trade with the United States my qualify for this type of visa. The volume of such trade must be sufficient to justify the trader or his/her employee(s) being in the United States to manage the trade, and must constitute the majority of the trader's international trade (i.e. at least 50% of the Trader's exports/imports must be to/from the USA). There is no set minimum level of trade which is considered sufficient, but obviously the lower the volume of trade the less likely one is to qualify as a Treaty Trader


now the question is does this mean that the US company should/must be trading in the same fielda s the UK one ? I think an attorney should be answering that, cos i have no idea but would hate to see you waste time and money on a wrong visa.

[mr&mrssunshine]

and this

E1 visa registration applications center on the volume of trade between the USA and the Treaty country. The prospective Treaty Trader must demonstrate that:-

•There will be a substantial number of trade transactions between the US and the treaty country.
•There will be a substantial dollar value to the trade between the US and the treaty country.
•The majority of international (i.e. not including transactions within the Treaty country or within the US) trade transactions undertaken by the applicant (have been and) will be between the US and the treaty country.
•The majority of the dollar value of trade (has been and) will be between the US and the treaty country.
•The trader (or his/her employees seeking E1 visas) has sufficient business acumen and experience to develop and direct the trade.
•The trader, and any other E1 staff, are able and willing to leave the US upon termination of their E1 status.
•The trader has a past history of conducting trade between the US and the treaty country