E-2 and L-1 Seminar on Saturday!

[floridapete]

Posted on: Across the Pond" blog, on Jun 29, 2006 11:03:07 AM.

"If you are an E2 or L1 visa holder, the Pegasus Group in Kissimmee is hosting a seminar on Saturday just for you with Miami immigration attorney Michelangelo Croce as the key speaker. Good opportunity to get lots of questions answered by someone who actually knows what they are talking about.

If you are interested, email: np@1pra.com and put in the subject line "What Next" or call the Pegasus Group International Inc. at 407-931-3441."

I have 'lifted this from the blog - hope that Kelly Griffith won't mind the extra publicity for her column ?

So who are the Pegasus Group ? Are they immigration consultants or business brokers ? Is this seminar REALLY for existing visa holders - or just looking for more visa applicants ?

You will only find out one way - give them a call !

[charliesmum]

I looked on Google - in one aticle it describes them as a 'business and real estate consulting firm, that specialises in helping overseas investors, paticularly those from the UK, relocate to the United States'.

Sounds like a marketing opportunity to me.

The only person I would like to question about the E2 situation is a representative from the Embassy.

Zoe

[pegasus]

Zoe
you cynical person you :-) Quite right, It is of course a marketing investment for the Pegasus Group, you get coffee, food and get to question an expensive attorney at no charge ....... , you should always remember nothing is for free. We will get our investment back (admittedly not directly from this group) many fold over time because goodwill and honesty is infectious.
I met Sue Ward last week and she invited me to join this board, and until now I have not bothered as these "expat boards" usually collapse into "I hate the natives boards and anyone who disagrees with me must be crooked" time will tell....
If you read the ad in the Mail on Sunday it is for those who already have an E2 and is in response to the number of false ideas floating around (see the ad this week). So What is in it for us? #1 Reputation. Last year alone we helped 27 persons to get E2s (we had no failures) this year so far only 6,however they are now all asking what next. Those who read the Mail on Sunday regularly, already know of my dislike of immigration consultants(generalized statement), crooked (my opinion) and unlicensed "business Brokers", as well as half informed amateurs from chat rooms and pub bars, they also know of my support of honest immigration attorney's. If you want "advice" and not just opinion, you can only get it from an attorney. No one from the Embassy or DoS is likely to come to Kissimmee to a public forum.
Michaelangelo helped with a few of our E2s and has been doing mostly immigration litigation ie the really tough stuff, and he agreed to come and give a presentation and answer general questions. Specific and personal questions can be dealt with by him later.
Zoe et al, I can only say stay very cynical and untrusting, if more were I would not have to spend half my time helping those that have been ripped off and those who have failing businesses.
HOWEVER try to remain positive not every gift horse is an old nag....

B rgds

Neil

[pegasus]

Sorry Peter forgot to answer your question
Revenue wise
management consultants first (thats how we started)
Real Estate second
Property development third
Business Brokers last - we now act ONLY as buyers reps

B rgds

Neil

PS This and the above is the last I shall mention of what we do any other questions give us a call

[charliesmum]

Pegasus

I apologise if I made it sound as though I am cynical - I thought I was just posting an answer to Pete's question. Most companies like yourselves wouldn't do something just to help people and I'm afraid I put you in that same block - I was obviously wrong. I didn't know you were the company who had been in touch with Susie and for that I commend you.

I made the comment about only speaking to the Embassy as it is them that I have the real issue with. I have great faith in my visa attorney - otherwise I wouldn't be using her - and just felt that I would prefer to talk directly to them if it was at all possible (whick I know it's not!!)

I love the life over here and all the people we meet and don't knock it at all. I have actively encouraged people to move over here in the past, although the way things are at the moment I would be wary of being as enthusiastic as before.

Are you able to at least tell us the time and place of the meeting on Saturday, as that will have a huge impact on whether my husband and I (and possibly a lot of other Brits) will attend, due to England playing in the Soccer World Cup!!!!

Zoe

[Bobby]

Pegasus

Are you able to at least tell us the time and place of the meeting on Saturday, as that will have a huge impact on whether my husband and I (and possibly a lot of other Brits) will attend, due to England playing in the Soccer World Cup!!!!

Zoe

Good point Zoe. There's no point trying to talk to a bunch of Englishmen who may be crying into their beers, come Saturday lunch time!!:p :eek:

[charliesmum]

You never know!!!

[Sharon]

Hi Peter

Thank you

I will definately call them

[pegasus]

Morning all

the date is
29th July and the time will be 0800 for 0900 finish at or arround 11-12

Place
Holiday Inn Maingate West
7601 Black Lake rd, Kissimmee

Although I follow Rugby I am still just wise enough not to arrange anything when the football (soccer) is on. Actually it was planned arround the first available date of the attorney!!!!

B rgds

Neil

[pegasus]

Some interesting stats from the USCIS web site on E visas issued
--------------total-----UK
2000 --------36500 ------3500
2001 ---------36800 ---- 3600
2002 ------- 33000 ---- 2300
2003 ------- 32000 ---- 2700
2004 ------- 36000 ---- 3300
2005 (til Oct) 37000 ---- 3500

obviously rounded numbers but it does show that evn last year UK s quota of around 8% was met, despite the perception that less were getting through

But remember
lies, damn lies, and statistics.

b rgds

Neil

[Kitty]

Dear Pegasus

Please do all you can to help Sue, she certainly needs as much support, practical help and promotion for this site.

Perhaps you could post a link on your web sites to www.expatsvoice.org ? or get your immigration attorney to PM her for her telephone number and give her some free advise?

Free advise is always welcome and makes a change from people just interested in linning their own pockets

If possible could you minute the questions and answers on this thread to help those who are unable to attend?

[pags]

Pegasus

sorry to be a paain--i get the 29th july bit--but can you clarify the time as you you put 800 for 900 then 11-12???

are there 2 sessions or what?

[floridapete]

So what happened there ? Did anybody off here go to it ?

[pegasus]

Hi All
I will add a link on wednesday when I get back to the office
the start time is 0900 but get there for 0800 for begals etc, finishes about 11 or 12
Peter its in JULY thats why nothing said :-)
B Rgds

Neil

[floridapete]

Hi All
I will add a link on wednesday when I get back to the office
the start time is 0900 but get there for 0800 for begals etc, finishes about 11 or 12
Peter its in JULY thats why nothing said :-)
B Rgds

Neil

Oops ! How did I get the impression (from Kellys blog) that it was THIS weekend ?

Stoopid me !

[pegasus]

Hi all (and Peter),
The seminar is THIS saturday coming, 29th July 2006.
time is 0930 to 1230 (later start due to distance some are coming) at Holiday inn Maingate west 7601 Black lake Road Kissimmee (near animal kingdom)
we have (to date) 21 persons (12 family names) who have reconfirmed their attendance. and we have space booked for a further 20 persons.
In addition to an attorney, and due to advance questions, we have had an accountant from Berman Hopkins and Moss volunteer to be available to answer questions as well as myself to answer a couple of questions on business planning and docs to keep for the USCIS etc etc.

I do need an email to confirm attendance ( NP@1PRA.COM ). This is a free opportunity to ask questions and get answers from the pro's (as opposed to hearsay at the pub and on some chat rooms). If this is a success then the attorney and accountants have agreed to do this on a regular basis, but we need more to attend than are already confirmed.
No matter what this first seminar will run.

B rgds

Neil.

[pegasus]

Hi
we had 27 booked and 28 turn up, an accountant was added to the presenters as a number of pre questions were about taxes etc.
The comments we received were polite and very positive, when we receive the feedback forms then we will really know, but lots of questions were asked and answered by all the presentors, unfortunately we over ran the booked time.
We also raised $240 for Charity.
If no one off this board was there, then.........

B rgds

Neil

[Bobby]

Hi

If no one off this board was there, then.........

B rgds

Neil



then ......... what?

[pegasus]

then;

you missed an opportunity;
its not that important to you;
stop complaining you never get answers;
if not one person came from this board how will you find out what happenned or what questions were asked;

you can add more or pick one that fits

I have almost all the responses in now and all were positive and have asked for further and more specifiic workshops


B rgds

Neil

[Susie]

Hi Neil

I for one wanted to attend but the person who was coming to drive me there had an emergency at the last minute

As kitty says, can you post the minutes of the meeting here for the benefit of those who would have liked to attend but were unable to?

It is a shame that the meeting was on a Saturday morning as many people have to work so unable to attend. If there is to be another one in the future then maybe a Sunday or evening may get more response

[Bobby]

then;

you missed an opportunity;
its not that important to you;
stop complaining you never get answers;
if not one person came from this board how will you find out what happenned or what questions were asked;

you can add more or pick one that fits

B rgds

Neil

Well, thank you Neil. I picked one.

Aren't you lucky to have a forum like this as a vehicle to drum up new clients. You couldn't BUY advertising with this sort of exposure.
I would be a little less condescending, if I were you, to those members you are trying to attract.

Bobby

[pegasus]

Hi Sue,
we advertised the event for more than 6 weeks (plus one extra by mistake of the MoS after the event) and ALL who responded by email or telephone turned up (one from Sarassota), we had one extra who phoned on the day to ask to come and we let in (despite saying all along if you dont book, you dont get in, see we are nice people).
There is (in my opinion) a general appathy toward attending such events and if you know that you are still getting the info without attending then why attend and the events become dead because of lack of real interaction. Had anyone said they were coming (or would like to) and didnt for whatever reason, they would have been sent a copy of the presentations. All who said they were coming did and thus there was no need for me to take notes.
If someone off this board did attend (we did not ask ) then if they wish to share their notes and comments they are free to do so.
The event from comments already received was successful and we intend to run another general seminar in the near ish future. We have also been asked to be more specific and run some Business planning and accountancy courses, which we will look into.
B Rgds

Neil
NB your note about saturday mornings has been taken on board

[Bobby]

Hi Sue,

There is (in my opinion) a general appathy toward attending such events and if you know that you are still getting the info without attending then why attend and the events become dead because of lack of real interaction.


I think that this is because people fear that they are going to be sold something, or railroaded into something that they can do without.

You clearly stated that you are in business, and it's clear that you are using the forum to advertise and bring in new clients under the guise of free immigration/business information. Everyone knows there is no such thing as a free lunch, so they remain sceptical.

Just my opinion on the sense of apathy.

Bobby

[pegasus]

Bobby,
I did not join this board to "Drum Up" more clients, our "shark repellent" (see previous MoS ads) immigration help is and has been for the last 2 years free to those who need it, we provide general information and opinion, when personal immigration ADVICE is required, we ALWAYS point them toward attorney's (and Never consultants) who our other clients have recommended. We get NO backhanders or commission (referral or otherwise ) from ANY of our recommended vendors.
I don't need to drum up no charge clients, I get 4 to 5 on average per WEEK (from the MoS ad or from the British Homes group advisory panel) who have been ripped off ( in my words and opinion) by attorney's Business Brokers, consultants et al, or their businesses are in trouble.
I joined this board to make sure certain barrack room experts opinions were not the only ones heard and taken as gospel by some less informed and naive as has happened on some other boards.

Now, would we like more paying clients, of course, however, as long as we can afford too we will continue to donate to charity and to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

B rgds

Neil

[Bobby]

Bobby,
I did not join this board to "Drum Up" more clients,




Now, would we like more paying clients, of course, however, .........

B rgds

Neil



No response required ;)

[Dippy Dot]

I usually only read message boards and hardly ever contribute because its usually a lot of hyped up rubbish. Anyway I didn't go the seminar because I had visitors but to support pegasus efforts, I got stung by very unprincipled brokers and attorneys and who helped me out of the nasty stuff without charging me a penny - sorry bobby, that would be pegasus, maybe you'd benefit from talking to them before casting aspersions

Edited by admin

[Susie]

Dear Dippy Dot

Welcome to our forum

I am pleased that despite your comments that most boards are usually a lot of hyped up rubbish you have decided to join and support our efforts.

Could you post a little about yourself in the introduction section? Things like just how long you have been in the US , where you are from etc., what problems you have experienced etc., but please do not #name names# as to the immigration attorney you had problems with

I do hope you understand ( as other members ) that the aim of this site is to raise awareness to the judiciary comittee, Senators, Congressmen of the problems we legal's living in the USA face. We are having our very first expats meeting on 13th Aug to put faces to names and to discuss forming a comittee and the way forward for on line petitions, marketing our site etc., you are more than welcome to attend to find out exactly what we are about.


At the same time we are all here to help and support each other and by having a business to business section, whereby after 10 posts and subject to Web masters approval we may promote our business to other members and hopefully offer preferred rates to members of expats voice.


We do not want members to join to purely to promote their business and who are not prepared to partake in a positive mannor, rude or unhelpful mannor

[Ron]

Hi Neil

I think Sue has hit the nail on the head about Saturday's. Most of us have no choice but to work and lucky if we can get the afternoon off.

Can you post the Q and A 's that were asked at the meeting. This would be useful/interesting to many and may even raise interesting comments or further Q's from the people who could not attend

[Sharon]

Hi Neil

I agree it would be useful for those of us that were unable to attend for you to share this information here and could persuade others to attend a future event

Please post the questions and answers here

By the way, did you ever put a link to expats voice on your web site ? as the last time I checked it had not been

[Bobby]

, that would be pegasus, maybe you'd benefit from talking to them before casting aspersions

Perhaps you should stick to READING forums if this is going to be your contribution. Not very smart.

[Bobby]

No idea who you are, but you have done yourself no favors at all if you expect to be taken seriously by making your first post a slant towards a regular contributor to the site.

The forum is meant to be helpful, and as Susie (the sites founder and moderator) has already pointed out, you should stick to posting helpfully instead

Sorry to hear that you had some immigration issues that had to be sorted out. Hopefully you have it all sorted out now and will be able to post the details of your case. Perhaps we can all learn from this.
It would certainly be more interesting for Ex-Pats and make better reading

[Susie]

Hi Bobby

Just so you are aware I have sent you a PM

[pegasus]

Hi all,
I will talk to our web guru and see if I can get the presentation available as a web link if not then its a cut and paste job on here. At the same time I will get him to update the web links

and thanks for those comment Dippy Dot, it is rare we ever get a thankyou, most are just relieved and after a couple of months we never hear from them again. I am still trying to figure out who you really are??????????

B rgds

Neil

[pegasus]

Link up and running

[victoria]

Sorry to be idiot - but where is the weblink to the presentation? Thanks so much (by the way - is it very Florida orientated or is it potentially useful to those of us who aren't in the Sunshine State?)

[pegasus]

Hi Victoria and Sharon,
both links are up and running
for the presentation try this

http://www.1pra.com/ppt/07%2006%20l1%20seminar.pps#256,1,Slide 1

for the answers to the "pub quiz" they are in the "notes section"

the link to this site is in the "preferred Vendors area

b rgds
Neil

[InnVic]

The link is for a 11MB download - any chance we can open file without download? (no offence but I never download anything from someone I don't know!)

[pegasus]

I thought it wa already, other than that, I dont know how, i will ask
B rgds

Neil