Here's a good letter............!

[floridapete]

See: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_southwest_brit/2006/09/should_american.html#more

Now is Nigel a member of your ExPatsVoice group ? Maybe he should be ?

[Kitty]

Hi

Here is what he wrote


Kelly,

Just read your article and found it an interesting piece.

Have to say that visa’s are an emotive topic at the best of times. Generally speaking, they are issued to hard-working people who want to do the right thing and be in the US legally. A lot come on E2 visa’s and then find that they enjoy life in America and that if they work hard they can be successful.

It comes as something of a shock when they find out that there is no possibility of ever changing that visa into a permanent visa/Green card and that the only solutions to that involve owning a UK business, being employed by someone else or simply having a million dollars to invest.

I know of several cases where people on E and L visa’s have been forced to return to UK for at least 3-4 weeks to renew their visas. This means they are away from their businesses for all this time and also have enormous cost of the trip running into thousands of dollars into the bargain.

Friends of mine recently did it "quickly", via Northern Ireland. It still took three weeks and approximately $9,000 in expenses (air/hotel/food/car hire) just to get their visa renewed.

As for me, I’ll be d**ned if I’m going to go through this after 10 years in the USA successfully running my business, being taxed more than Americans are and employing 12 - 15 people. Throw into the bargain that my daughters are getting older now (aged 13 & 16) and have never really known any other country than the USA.

I am already making provisional plans to leave the country when my eldest becomes 21 as I have no real choice but it may well be sooner if the US Gvt doesn’t change this stupid rule in regard to visa renewal.

If that happens, at least 15 people will be out of a job and the USA Gvt will lose out on the handsome tax base I provide via profit on my business & then on my property taxes (yes, we don’t qualify for Homestead either).

Am I disillusioned? Not really. It’s just a fact of life that 9/11 changed the world. Unfortunately the politicians that are elected don’t have much common sense do they? They’d far rather inconvenience the masses because of their inability to bring in proper controls that actually catch terrorists.

(Immigration attorney) James LaVigne is absolutely right that the system is broken. The only thing that will change that is the politicians and because none of us gets to vote, they’re not interested……….so what’s all that about "taxation without representation" again?

Nigel Worrall

Hi Peter

Not sure if a member but as he has taken the trouble to write in reply to Kelly maybe he should

[mark]

It is good to see others are taking note and more importantly begining to wise up and wake up and speak up about legals instead or the darn illegals

[NigelW]

Hi all,

Yes, I joined this forum a while ago but to be honest didn't have much to contribute. I agree with most of the opinion in regard to the way visa's are issued and didn't really see that I had anything to contribute other than to agree.

I would have liked to attend one of the recent meetings but after being President of CFPMA last year, and President of two HOA's not to mention my other business interests, I promised my family I'd spend more time with them this year. The Sunday meetings were just not possible I'm sorry to say.

As President of CFPMA last year I did write to Senator Wheldon and I gave my full backing to the formation of an immigration committee led by Allan Oakley at the time. I hear that Michael Eckersley is now taking on that role and he, like Allan, will get my full support in his endeavour. I am sorry to report that I never did receive a reply from Senator Wheldon however. Let's hope this forum can bring about the much needed reform but I think it's safe to say that it will a long and difficult road that we embark on together.

[Susie]

Hi Nigel,

Thank you for writing to Kelly's blog and supporting our site

I am sure that you may be able to help in the background by sending e-mails to any contact you are aware of that is in the USA on E,L or other visa status or by having a link to expats voice on you web site

You would be more than welcome to come along to our next committee meeting which will be midweek at 7.30pm. The next meeting will be around Mid Oct

Any way you think you may be of help would be very much appreciated

I am assisting Michael with the CFMPA efforts on immigration. It has driven me almost insane reading up for the past 6 + years on the differnt types of visa. But I have a genuine interest in the subject as a whole.

Nice to speak with you earlier

[Grumpy]

Hi Nigel and welcome

Looks like you were a lurker, till now that is

Congrats on your first posting