Business broker problems.

[floridapete]

So often would-emigrants to Florida are mislead, misadvised or down right 'conned' by unscrupulous 'business brokers' anbd 'immigration advisors' who just rip-em-off for the thousands of dollars that these unwitting victims are willing to throw at the prospect of ever finding that 'better lifestyle in the sun'.

I saw that Susie mentioned on a thread that I cannot now find again a couple who recently arrived in the Kissimmee area having bought a business from a certain 'broker and immigration advisor' in that area who I am sure will be the very same one that I have considerable knowledge of.

Their story goes that soon after arriving and buying the business based on certain contracts being in place ....guess what...the contracts disappeared !

I assume that they lost all of the monies that they had paid for that business and their 'advisor' costs ?

Frankly I am amazed that the US Embassy in London swallowed that one enough to give them a five year visa initial term. But, somehow, they have now managed to find 'another business' assuming that they have paid all over again to buy it (but how will that other business qualify on their E2 visas which are specific to the initial 'qualifying business' ?).

Anyhow, my great concern is with this particular firm who I have many instances of this kind of 'rip-off' practices being normal.

I know of quite a few Brits who paid their money, got out there (advised that it was OK to work the business they had bought until their visas came through !) only to then be picked up by the Dept. of Justice agents and summarily deported back to the UK., family, dog and all.

I recently tried to get their glossy back page ad. pulled off a well-known America titled magazine aimed at would-be emigrants. But I don't know yet whether the magazine have had the balls to do so in spite of all the evidence I and the victims provided.

So what I am trying to say to any would-be emigrants to Florida from the UK is BE VERY CAREFUL WHO YOU DO BUSINESS WITH ! If you are buying a business you need to be very careful who you buy it through and who their attached 'immigration advisor' is !

If you want some 'good guy' business broker contacts then e-mail me on FlaBritsCl@aol.com or call me on 01904/471800.

For obvious reasons there is no way that I am going to give out the names of the 'bad guys' on here as it is only a matter of time before they start to read this Forum anyway !

Peter Stanhope
Florida Brits Group.

www.FloridaBritsGroup.com

[Susie]

Hi Peter,

Well I have now spoken to three people who have experienced simular problems and will put them in touch with each other.

A new member will be posting shortly with regards to a serious error by immigration attorney. Apparently the attorney knew that there would be three people coming to the USA and forgot to get a B visa for the child.

As you know there is a provision where you can change to a different status if you come to the US on a B visa. It appears that attorney said it did not matter about child, so said to come on visa wavier would be OK.

You cannot change to a different status from a visa waiver.

These poor people did seek and pay for attoney advise but it appears that the attorney did not belong to aila

[floridapete]

I'm really surprised that there hasn't been any other responses to this topic!

Did everyone else have 'wonderful' business brokers and immigration attorneys ?

I can't believe that !!

[Karyn]

I didn't use a business broker - I wish I had - I was totally ripped off, in fact the business I was recommended to buy came from a “supposedly “expert on Florida. Unfortunately he didn’t have the first idea of what was involved in a business purchase and I believe was really looking for his “cut” of the commission. He in effect left me without representation and in my ignorance I wasn’t aware that I should have had a broker on my side of the deal. Now as a realtor (the exact same thing as a business broker) I understand the expertise involved in making sure that all the facts are discovered and disclosed. Also that the appropriate safety measures are in place to protect both the seller and buyer.

While I agree that there are a lot of bad ones out there, since living here I have met one that I do believe is honest and would be happy to recommend.

[sassy]

Hi there,

i'd just like to say what a good idea this site is and hope i can receive some positive feedback to help our case.We bought a house and biz in FL fast tracked the E2 visa through Texas,our attorney ommitted to tell us only my husbands application would be fast tracked and mine and 16 year daughter would have to wait for normal chanels.So 6 months down the line i have verbal conf of a visa but my daughter has been declined because she only came over on visa waiver (our attorney ommitted to tell us she wouldnt be able to convert).So where do we go from here? We cant risk taking her back to UK as she has overstayed and now has a visa application denied and we have been advised independantly that she probably wouldnt be granted a B2 visa anyway. Can anyone help.
Thanks a lot
Sassy

[Susie]

Hi Sassy,

Thank you for putting details of your case and your kind comments

I am very concerned that your attorney applied for a B visa for your husband and yourself yet omitted to do so for your child thus allowing her to come to the USA on a visa wavier. This to me seems an oversight and error on attoneys part. For legal reasons I ask that you do not post attornies name on an open forum, but if you wish please pm me

Most people do know that a visa waiver allows visits to the USA as a tourist for max 90 days. I am well informed that no one can apply for a visa whilst in the USA if here on a visa wavier. That is why your child has been denied her E visa


Your attorney applied for E visa for husband, child and yourself whilst you were on B visa and in the USA, Correct?

The attorney should have known that you cannot get a visa approved whislt in the USA on a visa waiver, this simply is not allowed and why your child got denied.

Have you asked your attorney what he would advise you to do and more importantly how he intends to rectify? Or if children overstay, are they forgiven, if yes, must they be under 18 years or 21years?

I strongly recommend you seek a second opinion from an immigration attorney, and one who is a member of AILA, as what you have told us is very serious

Im my research I am sure I read somewhere that if children overstay, these overstays are forgiven. I will need to read up to find out for sure but you could try to research on www.uscis.gov in the meantime

Please let us know how you get on with second opinion

Webmaster may have to move your post and min as you posted under the business broker section , but can I ask did the attorney also sell you the business? if so the posting may remain here if webmaster agrees

[floridapete]

Hi there,

i'd just like to say what a good idea this site is and hope i can receive some positive feedback to help our case.We bought a house and biz in FL fast tracked the E2 visa through Texas,our attorney ommitted to tell us only my husbands application would be fast tracked and mine and 16 year daughter would have to wait for normal chanels.So 6 months down the line i have verbal conf of a visa but my daughter has been declined because she only came over on visa waiver (our attorney ommitted to tell us she wouldnt be able to convert).So where do we go from here? We cant risk taking her back to UK as she has overstayed and now has a visa application denied and we have been advised independantly that she probably wouldnt be granted a B2 visa anyway. Can anyone help.
Thanks a lot
Sassy

I am interested by your daughters case of being 'advised' that it was OK for her to enter on Visa Waiver and then to change status - which we all know is impossible - but he/she, apparently, didn't !

I seem to have a distant echo in my memory of another case just like this - was/is your immigration attorney based in the Sarasota area, as you are ?

There appears to be some sloppy 'immigration attornies' about who take the money - then drop you in it !

PM me if you feel more comfortable doing so.

[JulieC]

Sassy, that is a total nightmare. I would concur with Susie that you need to see a good immigration attorney, someone who is a member of AILA. It may be better to come clean with immigration, if you stay longer the penalties get higher. Did you try to put her on your B2 and the embassy wouldnt do it?I know they are reticent to do so with kids because of the schooling issue, as we all know no-one should be at school on a B2 and that is the official line but many are and with no visa at all,

[sassy]

Our visa company gave us the whole package,we bought a house,biz and they applied for visas.My husband and i originally applied for B2s in London and 2 days before our interview our visa co said our daughter should apply as well but London wouldnt let her come with us (i phoned and asked twice) our visa co said not to worry,we presumed we only needed B2 s incase we didnt receive E2 within 90 days,we had no idea our daughter couldnt convert.We have given our co a chance to redeem themselves and hope to convert on a grovelling letter or humanitarian grounds.In the meantime we are hoping to be approved in London application went in in October has anyone any idea how long an application is taking for first review?
Thanks Sassy

[sassy]

Sorry Pete forgot to mention our visa co is based in Orlando
Sassy

[JulieC]

Another of the famous one stop shops by the sounds of it. This is one circumstance where package deals should be avoided. There is just too much commission in selling people all that lot for a company to warn people of the pitfalls.

[Ron]

Hi Sassy

Are you happy with the business? Did the broker who sold it to you advise that you should seek advise on the purchase from a CPA accountant and get due dillegence carried out?

Has the business performed like the broker said it would?

I am so sorry, you do seem to have been through the mill

Have you sought second opinion from immigration attorney? What about calling the British Consulate for advise? You never knwo they might be able to pull a few strings