Let's fix this!

[Nina]

Hi everyone,

My name is Nina and my family and I are here on an E2 visa. I am the principal and my husband works full-time outside the business. We have one daughter in high school and one at university (on a 75% scholarship - yay!). We also have two sons, a daughter-in-law and a grandson in England.

Like most people on E2 visas, we have had a lot of problems over the 3+ years we have been here. We were heartbroken to discover that there is no avenue to permanent residence other than finding an employer to sponsor one of us or marrying off one of our daughters! The rules regarding employment sponsorship changed in July of this year and it is now almost impossible to go that route.

I have a close friend whose family are also here on E2 and we have decided it's time all E2 families got together to bring about change. We went to see Congressman Connie Mack's immigration laison officer yesterday to get the ball rolling, but we need everyone in this situation to email or write to their representatives pointing out that we create employment, receive no benefits, support our communities and have more right to become permanent residents than any other type of immigrant!

Bear in mind that, until fairly recently, the spouses of E2 visa holders were not permitted to work outside of the business. Now they can get SS numbers and work anywhere they please. This shows that it is possible to change the laws if enough people make enough noise.

Please join us, we can fix this if we work together.

Nina

[InnVic]

Hi everyone,

We were heartbroken to discover that there is no avenue to permanent residence
Nina


whilst I appreciate your disappointment, you must have been aware of this BEFORE you moved to the US on E2?

[Kriz1]

It could be the same as I never knew the H1B did lead to a greencard...I was looking on this as more of a temp move...to get the kids to see a bit of the world....it only became hard work to me once the greencards started...and we started to learn about visa's and how they worked and what could go wrong...I think I was happier knowing I would be going back to the UK in 5 years...once the fight to stay here starts..it takes over your life...

[Susie]

Hello Nina and welcome to our site

I do agree with Innvic that parents should make themselves aware of all the rules regarding the different types and rules and regs that go with them.

But I also agree that E 2 children should have a pathway to a green card as it is not their fault as to where their parents take them to live. Also bearing in mind that H1 B children and L visa children also have a pathway to a green card and it the Dream act is passed this would allow illegal children to be documented and possible pathway to a green card.

With the help of Mun (many thanks) we have written our own draft legislation to amend the CSPA (Child status protection act) to this effect and has been passed from Congressman Dave Weldon's office up to Washington

Congresswoman Heather Wilson has also drafted legislation to amend the E visa from a non immigrant to immigrant visa subject to certain conditions being met. She has a co-sponsor and waiting for news on this.

You are correct that up to a few years ago, the dependant spouce of E2 visa could not work and the law has been changed since. This is no easy task, especially as we really do need to employ a lobbyist to help at a cost of approx $5,000 per month

Many things are going on in the background to achieve our goals and would like to invite you to our next committee meeting in the hope you can assist us.

Please feel free to pm your contact details if you would like me to contact you

[Susie]

Hi Kris, Innvic and others

Am closing this thread as it has been duplicated, can you re post on other thread, thanks

I can then delete this duplicate