Susie
10-14-2006, 05:23 PM
Hi
Micheal has given permission to post this provisional report in an effort to share information. If you have any suggestions please reply to thread
Thanks
IMMIGRATION
Is it affecting Tourism?
And
Economic Development ?
YES
Produced on behalf of the Central Florida Property Managers Association (CFPMA).
CFPMA Immigration Overview
1 Complexity and spiraling Cost of applying for and renewing Visas
2 Children of Visa holders and aging out.
3 Transfer to green card or citizenship in order to be able to retire
4 Death of visa holder and problems for spouse.
5 Visa holders re-entering and entering the US
Visa Applications
It appears that during the last 12 months the waiting time for a visa approval has extended from 1 month to up to 9 months.
This is very detrimental to the economic development and quality of service to tourism, not only to the Central Florida area but to the entire US.
People who pay $1000 to fast track their approval in order to speed up the purchase of a business still are waiting several months for appointments at the London Embassy.
Sellers of businesses will not wait for several months while a visa is being obtained causing the potential investor to possibly lose interest and go to Spain or Turkey, two emerging tourist areas for the Europeans.
Renewals should be permitted to take place in the US instead of returning to Home Country. During the wait time for appointments, the I 94 is valid, but in the case of an emergency needing to leave the country they are unable to return.
Cost of traveling to UK or other European country to renew a visa is as much as $15000 a large chunk of profit not being reinvested in the business.
Children of Visa Holders
People obtain investment visa’s E2
This brings the family to Central Florida, young children are then penalized when reaching the age of 21 and technically have to then leave the country regardless of the fact that they have been brought up as an American in school, social life and culture.
There should be some way that at the age of 16 onwards that they may apply for citizenship and in the interim period should be given a work permit
The Dream Act does not include E2 Visa holders.
These children even if they go on to college are unable to work to sustain themselves.
The US invests in their education and then demands they leave to return to their country of origin with no financial support and making them STRANGERS in a STRANGE LAND
Green Cards
E2 visa holders even after many years are not
Permitted to transfer to a green card or citizenship.
Many not only invest their money but also their life to the US economy and should be encouraged to convert to Citizenship.
Death of a visa holder
On the passing of a visa holder the spouse is given three weeks to intern their beloved and also to sell the business and all property before being required to leave the country.
There should be some provision for them to be able to remain until either they have been able to satisfactorily close all their business interests or be able to continue the business unhampered.
There should also be some provision for people awaiting renewals for compassionate purposes,
Such as:
* 24 hour urgent processing,
* Vacationers or property managers taken ill and relatives unable to come to assist in care and comfort.
* The difficulties appear to be against Service industry companies,
The immigration personnel do not seem to be aware that there are approximately 25000 private homes in the Four Corners area making it the equivalent to a 100000 bed hotel.
A majority of the property management companies that service these homes and home owners are citizens of the UK. The staffing of such a huge unit would take an army and this is one of the reasons that there are so many applications for E2 visas, it is another of those situations where the British are very accustomed to the
Service industry where owners and management need to be on call 24/7.
Bearing in mind that there are very few companies that manage more than 120 homes it would need in excess of 200 property management companies but the manageable number for a couple with staff is about 40, which increases the management figures to 625 companies.
In addition, there is a need for pool companies and lawn crews together with housekeepers and maintenance crews to maintain these homes.
Polk County alone has registered in the Polk County Tax office, 7088 private vacation homes needing approximately 177 management companies 70 pool cleaning companies and 70 lawn crews.
As most management companies do not wish to employ illegal persons and as these are minimum paying jobs the industry does need people that will spend 8 hours a day working in 90 degree weather.
Value of the Industry of
Vacation Home Management
In Polk county alone:
7088 Vacation Homes
Revenue from Property Tax $19,393,506
Revenue from Tourist Development Tax $3,538,607
Employment 19899
New Jobs Created 2339
Additional spending in POLK $968,550,000
Vacation Homes owned by 67% Foreign
County Schools benefit by $17,502,508 without additional usage
The first economic impact study produced by Weber International University in 2001 reported some 26000 homes in Central Florida that were available for Vacation Rentals and the current study may be found at cfpma.org. (The Webber report can be found on the home page.)
Current estimates show an economic impact of $4.8 Billion created from the vacation homes and the tourists that use them.
Immigration Officials
We understand that many business people with legitimate visas are being held at entry points to the US for up to 20 hours.
One example was a property manager who was in Cleveland, Ohio
After returning from burying his mother.
He eventually was permitted to continue his journey but had to report to Orlando Immigration. His E2 was renewed only last December by the embassy in London.
The holders of Visas are also punished in that they have to apply every two years for a Driving license which is tied to the I 94 and not the Visa.
Below is a letter from a property manager that recently returned to the US:
Well, we are back in sunny Florida although I didn’t think we would be. We were held by immigration for 5 hours and really thought they were sending us back. The officer told us and I quote “you are a burden to the United States.....you don’t pay taxes..........and its people like you causing all the problems in Florida! “
But we are here, at least for 90 days. We are on a waiting list for an interview with the London when we need to take all our paperwork etc to prove it is a legitimate business and that it meets all the criteria. Trouble is we don’t know how long we will have to wait; we are just praying it will be in the next 90 days.
Central Florida Property Managers Association
Our mission is to unite Central Florida property management companies as a professional body. We will work together to promote our industry, and to support compliance in order to serve and protect the interests of our property owners and guests.
__________________________________________________ ___
7862 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, #305; Kissimmee, FL 34747
www.cfpma.org 1-800-486-8302
Summary
• Speeding up of applications in London
• Renewals of Visas in the US
• E2 children addressed
• Conversion to Green Cards and Citizenship
• Compassionate situations
• More respect from Immigration Officials at port of entry
• Driving License renewals with Visa not I94
• Continue Visa Waiver program to avoid inconvenience to Tourists
Micheal has given permission to post this provisional report in an effort to share information. If you have any suggestions please reply to thread
Thanks
IMMIGRATION
Is it affecting Tourism?
And
Economic Development ?
YES
Produced on behalf of the Central Florida Property Managers Association (CFPMA).
CFPMA Immigration Overview
1 Complexity and spiraling Cost of applying for and renewing Visas
2 Children of Visa holders and aging out.
3 Transfer to green card or citizenship in order to be able to retire
4 Death of visa holder and problems for spouse.
5 Visa holders re-entering and entering the US
Visa Applications
It appears that during the last 12 months the waiting time for a visa approval has extended from 1 month to up to 9 months.
This is very detrimental to the economic development and quality of service to tourism, not only to the Central Florida area but to the entire US.
People who pay $1000 to fast track their approval in order to speed up the purchase of a business still are waiting several months for appointments at the London Embassy.
Sellers of businesses will not wait for several months while a visa is being obtained causing the potential investor to possibly lose interest and go to Spain or Turkey, two emerging tourist areas for the Europeans.
Renewals should be permitted to take place in the US instead of returning to Home Country. During the wait time for appointments, the I 94 is valid, but in the case of an emergency needing to leave the country they are unable to return.
Cost of traveling to UK or other European country to renew a visa is as much as $15000 a large chunk of profit not being reinvested in the business.
Children of Visa Holders
People obtain investment visa’s E2
This brings the family to Central Florida, young children are then penalized when reaching the age of 21 and technically have to then leave the country regardless of the fact that they have been brought up as an American in school, social life and culture.
There should be some way that at the age of 16 onwards that they may apply for citizenship and in the interim period should be given a work permit
The Dream Act does not include E2 Visa holders.
These children even if they go on to college are unable to work to sustain themselves.
The US invests in their education and then demands they leave to return to their country of origin with no financial support and making them STRANGERS in a STRANGE LAND
Green Cards
E2 visa holders even after many years are not
Permitted to transfer to a green card or citizenship.
Many not only invest their money but also their life to the US economy and should be encouraged to convert to Citizenship.
Death of a visa holder
On the passing of a visa holder the spouse is given three weeks to intern their beloved and also to sell the business and all property before being required to leave the country.
There should be some provision for them to be able to remain until either they have been able to satisfactorily close all their business interests or be able to continue the business unhampered.
There should also be some provision for people awaiting renewals for compassionate purposes,
Such as:
* 24 hour urgent processing,
* Vacationers or property managers taken ill and relatives unable to come to assist in care and comfort.
* The difficulties appear to be against Service industry companies,
The immigration personnel do not seem to be aware that there are approximately 25000 private homes in the Four Corners area making it the equivalent to a 100000 bed hotel.
A majority of the property management companies that service these homes and home owners are citizens of the UK. The staffing of such a huge unit would take an army and this is one of the reasons that there are so many applications for E2 visas, it is another of those situations where the British are very accustomed to the
Service industry where owners and management need to be on call 24/7.
Bearing in mind that there are very few companies that manage more than 120 homes it would need in excess of 200 property management companies but the manageable number for a couple with staff is about 40, which increases the management figures to 625 companies.
In addition, there is a need for pool companies and lawn crews together with housekeepers and maintenance crews to maintain these homes.
Polk County alone has registered in the Polk County Tax office, 7088 private vacation homes needing approximately 177 management companies 70 pool cleaning companies and 70 lawn crews.
As most management companies do not wish to employ illegal persons and as these are minimum paying jobs the industry does need people that will spend 8 hours a day working in 90 degree weather.
Value of the Industry of
Vacation Home Management
In Polk county alone:
7088 Vacation Homes
Revenue from Property Tax $19,393,506
Revenue from Tourist Development Tax $3,538,607
Employment 19899
New Jobs Created 2339
Additional spending in POLK $968,550,000
Vacation Homes owned by 67% Foreign
County Schools benefit by $17,502,508 without additional usage
The first economic impact study produced by Weber International University in 2001 reported some 26000 homes in Central Florida that were available for Vacation Rentals and the current study may be found at cfpma.org. (The Webber report can be found on the home page.)
Current estimates show an economic impact of $4.8 Billion created from the vacation homes and the tourists that use them.
Immigration Officials
We understand that many business people with legitimate visas are being held at entry points to the US for up to 20 hours.
One example was a property manager who was in Cleveland, Ohio
After returning from burying his mother.
He eventually was permitted to continue his journey but had to report to Orlando Immigration. His E2 was renewed only last December by the embassy in London.
The holders of Visas are also punished in that they have to apply every two years for a Driving license which is tied to the I 94 and not the Visa.
Below is a letter from a property manager that recently returned to the US:
Well, we are back in sunny Florida although I didn’t think we would be. We were held by immigration for 5 hours and really thought they were sending us back. The officer told us and I quote “you are a burden to the United States.....you don’t pay taxes..........and its people like you causing all the problems in Florida! “
But we are here, at least for 90 days. We are on a waiting list for an interview with the London when we need to take all our paperwork etc to prove it is a legitimate business and that it meets all the criteria. Trouble is we don’t know how long we will have to wait; we are just praying it will be in the next 90 days.
Central Florida Property Managers Association
Our mission is to unite Central Florida property management companies as a professional body. We will work together to promote our industry, and to support compliance in order to serve and protect the interests of our property owners and guests.
__________________________________________________ ___
7862 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, #305; Kissimmee, FL 34747
www.cfpma.org 1-800-486-8302
Summary
• Speeding up of applications in London
• Renewals of Visas in the US
• E2 children addressed
• Conversion to Green Cards and Citizenship
• Compassionate situations
• More respect from Immigration Officials at port of entry
• Driving License renewals with Visa not I94
• Continue Visa Waiver program to avoid inconvenience to Tourists