American Investor

[lorraine]

Hi we have some American friends who want to invest in our company ie into our British company and open another subsidary of our American company in another area about 20 miles from us. Does anyone know how this stands for us we are currently on L1 waiting for renewal. Would we stay L1 or do we change. We were thinking of applying for green card around June next year would this still be the way to go.. Our American friends not only want to help us, but they see it as a good propersition for them also.. We would still carry the same shares in the British and American company and they would be approx 25 percent share holders. Trust isnt an issue here, we have known these people for a long time we care for their children and spend more time with them than our own family. Obviously it would all be done legal with our attorney. I just want to know what if anything this does to the L1 green card application.. Thankyou Kind regards Lorraine

[Sharon]

Hi Lorraine

It may be better if you submit your I 140 and I 485 and wait for approval before you start getting others involved in your company

The service centres get confused with the simple matters so the more complicated will maybe red flag your case

[Susie]

Hi Lorraine

I tend to agree with Sharon but may I ask a couple of questions first? I will understand if you prefer not to anwer

Do you have to renew L visa? or can you just do I 140 and I 485 instead? If you are able to do this it will save time and money

Is the UK company and USA company same share ratio? Same directors?

How many people do you employ in the UK company and how many in US ?company?

[lorraine]

Hi Susie we are waiting for the I94 renewal at the moment.. you cant apply for the green card till you have been trading at least a year in America. Although we got our L last June it took till November with all the forms permits etc to get the business open... The business in the UK is identical to the one here. Same share ratio, same directors. We employ 5 in the UK and at present here we employ 5 here. Kind regards Lorraine

[JulieC]

As someone who has had a world of immigration problems for nearly a year because our UK and US shareholdings were slightly different, I would advise not to tamper at all with the make up of the UK and US businesses until you get an approved 1-140. Better to be safe than sorry.

[lorraine]

Hi thanks for all your input kind regards Lorraine

[Susie]

Hi Lorraine

Lets suppose

Your husband is on L1 and you (as his dependant ) are on an L2

There would be nothing stopping you and your friends starting up a new company 50-50 between you and them. They put up the start money, you get 50%, this is of course if you have work autho

Once your husbands I 140 and I 485 was approved you could then sell shares of your existing US and UK company for a token amount or otherwise

I still tend to think it would be better to hold off involving change of share ratio to existing companies, this would blow the immigration offiers minds.

Eg They cannot think outside the box and so complicate matters

Have you run this by your immigration attorney if you have one?