E2 Application

[Deborah]

Hello

We are about to start our second E2 application, the first was refused at interview after a 12 month delay. We wouldn't mind, but we had actually withdrawn and had started looking for another business opportunity, when we were suddenly called to London for interview - only to be refused!

Anyway, we're reading lots of unsettling news on this forum. Does anyone have any positive information they can offer as we start this process again? Do we know if any E2 approvals are going through for petitioners from the UK, we know they are for Ireland and France? We don't understand how the Embassy can have such different opinions, surely all US Embassies should be working to the same Foreign Affairs Manual. But, clearly not, as things are getting passed through Ireland and France (that we know of) that were refused through London. They also get passed through Texas, only these petitions don't make it any further through London.

Thanks, look forward to hearing any comments.

Deborah

[casjon]

Hi Deborah

I know I may have too much of a conspiracy theory mentality BUT...

has anyone considered that it may not be the case of the Americans not wanting us to enter the USA - quite the reverse - It may just be that the UK government has woken up to the brain drain and is trying its best to stop the good old tax payers leaving.

Without us the scales tip even more to the red.

The UK and USA are close allies and I am sure that Tony and George could come up with some kind of agreement to even the balance.

I probably shouldn't be saying this on a public forum - I will have no hope of getting an application through.

[JulieC]

It is only a rumour but I have heard it from two separate sources that "you know who" in the London embassy is leaving in June. So I would hold off reapplying! The number to people you hear of to be refused after a wait of 12 months or more. I know of someone who filed in Oct 2004 and was finally turned down at pre approval interview in Feb 2005!

[casjon]

Julie

If the info is correct it will be very interesting to see how her successor performs.

Fingers crossed that my theory is completely wrong.

[Deborah]

Hi

I had heard these rumours quite a while ago, that Tony Blair had asked the US not to approve visas as he was losing all his taxpayers. I also believe there is similar situation with Australia.

I know there has been an article in The Times, but I'm surprised tabloids such as the Daily Mail or Daily Express have not investigated this situation - it would cause quite a stir amongst readers.

[Susie]

Hi Deborah

I met with Tom Patton who is the executive director of The Central Florida Development Council also executive director of The Visitors and Convention Bureau


He recently was sent to the UK (at US tax payers expense) to try and drum up more investors to the USA with Bush. Not sure if was with George or his brother Hmmmm

Alan may know more , as he was there too

If you can find me the contact details of the Daily mail or express I will contact them for editorial about our aims and site

[casjon]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/dmstandard/article.html?in_article_id=299115&in_page_id=711

Here is the contact page for the Daily Mail

[casjon]

http://www.express.co.uk/gotastory.html

Contact for the express

[Deborah]

Hi Susie

Your response is very puzzling; the US have sent someone over to the UK to drum up investors. Why? So they can make us wait around for 12 months, at great cost and inconvenience, then charge us 64GBP each to refuse us - not forgetting the lovely stamp you get in your passport! What an absolute cheek.

It would be great if the Mail or Express are interested.

[Susie]

Hi

Yes it is true, I got it from the horses mouth!

I also belong to another immigration action awareness group and with the help of others are writing a white paper for him

The white paper must reflect on how visa's, visa denials have a negative bearing on the travel industry in Florida

Whilst he does not have any power he does know people in the right places and has concerns with the current situation of L and E visa renewals etc.

[Kitty]

please keep us all posted if you hear anymore!

[newman]

Hello

We are about to start our second E2 application, the first was refused at interview after a 12 month delay. We wouldn't mind, but we had actually withdrawn and had started looking for another business opportunity, when we were suddenly called to London for interview - only to be refused!

Anyway, we're reading lots of unsettling news on this forum. Does anyone have any positive information they can offer as we start this process again? Do we know if any E2 approvals are going through for petitioners from the UK, we know they are for Ireland and France? We don't understand how the Embassy can have such different opinions, surely all US Embassies should be working to the same Foreign Affairs Manual. But, clearly not, as things are getting passed through Ireland and France (that we know of) that were refused through London. They also get passed through Texas, only these petitions don't make it any further through London.

Thanks, look forward to hearing any comments.

Deborah
HI Deborah,
What do you mean by "They are going through texas" I also read earlier that applications can be fast tracked through Texas.What do you mean by this. We are trying to emigrate to Texas does this mean that we have a better chance than if we were going to Florida?
We have not even submitted our application yet! We have been close to completing on a couple of businesses but issues have cropped up at the last minute.
Our visa company "Visaplus" who are based in London have informed us that applications are taking longer at the moment but they have not mentioned the fact that many are getting turned down. What are the reason that the embassy are giving for turning down these applications?

Steve

[Deborah]

HI Deborah,
What do you mean by "They are going through texas" I also read earlier that applications can be fast tracked through Texas.What do you mean by this. We are trying to emigrate to Texas does this mean that we have a better chance than if we were going to Florida?
We have not even submitted our application yet! We have been close to completing on a couple of businesses but issues have cropped up at the last minute.
Our visa company "Visaplus" who are based in London have informed us that applications are taking longer at the moment but they have not mentioned the fact that many are getting turned down. What are the reason that the embassy are giving for turning down these applications?

Steve

[Deborah]

Hi Steve

When I say "they are going through Texas" I am referring to 'change of status'. When people come in on a B2 visitor status, get here, find a business to buy, then apply for a change of status to E2. They are intitially getting approved at Texas, but when the paperwork arrives at London (where they then sit on it for say 6-9 months), only then to be refused. London seem to operate to their own guidelines rather than what is stated in their own Foregin Affairs Manual. They don't seem to have any real reasons for refusing. We know someone who was refused at the same time as ours, and during their interview they asked a question which the Embassy did not want to answer, so their response was "this interview is now terminated". They are a law unto themselves, it's very frustrating, but they seem to be able to get away with it.

I don't know anything about fast tracking; is that where you pay additional monies to get a quicker answer? If so, does it work, and at what cost?

[JulieC]

I would say you may have more success with a business in Texas actually. Those sold in Florida tend to be "in the box" within the tourist industry and many are higher priced for what they are elsewhere. Plus she must be fed up with reading applications from Brits wanting to mover to Florida to run management companies. lawncares, poolcares. maintenance cos etc.

They are turned down on anything and everything and yes at the moment quite a lot are being turned down. The ones that are getting through are very clean high priced businesses with a number of employees and a good owner benefit. If you are trying to get through with a $120,000 lawncare making $50,000 with one employee nowadays as you used to be able to five years ago, you may struggle. A lot of people think they may have put up the substantial investment definition through internal policy and told no one.

[samtheman]

I would say you may have more success with a business in Texas actually. Those sold in Florida tend to be "in the box" within the tourist industry and many are higher priced for what they are elsewhere. Plus she must be fed up with reading applications from Brits wanting to mover to Florida to run management companies. lawncares, poolcares. maintenance cos etc.

They are turned down on anything and everything and yes at the moment quite a lot are being turned down. The ones that are getting through are very clean high priced businesses with a number of employees and a good owner benefit. If you are trying to get through with a $120,000 lawncare making $50,000 with one employee nowadays as you used to be able to five years ago, you may struggle. A lot of people think they may have put up the substantial investment definition through internal policy and told no one.

Not strictly true. there are a number of businesses being approved within 3 weeks of submission still and they are start ups albeit with a sound business plan and proven success rates of previous similar applications. motto is be careful of your VC and tales of doom!

[d cass]

We came over on a B2 ,found a business and our attorney fast tracked our application through texas.It cost us $1000 and we had an answer in 15 days.Our understanding is we are now allowed to stay in this country for 2 years but if we leave for any reason we will be refused re-entry which is why we have also applied in London and are still waiting for pre-approval after 5 months.

[Susie]

Hi

One of the changes that needs to be made is better tracking of cases that are being delt with at the American consulates

At present there does not seem any way to get answers

You e-mail them, they do not reply

You send a certified letter, with a stamped addressed envelope, they still do not reply

If you are in the USA you cannot even get connected to the premimum rate phone advisors

What a mess!