hi there

[kimmy]

i must say how pleased I am to see a forum like this we applyed for our e2 visa in dec 2004 we bought a very strong business ( or so we thought) after 2 letters requesting more information we were approved we were able to telephone the e2 office direct then dont think you can now but I do have the number if any one wants to give it atry they told us over the phone that we had been approved and even made the appointment for us we went to the embassy and we didnt have to wait long a guy asked us a couple of questions and all was approved got a passport back 2 days later and there we was off to start our great new life in florida or so we thought
closed on the business 2 weeks later and then our nightmares started
every day we used to wake up and think what will today bring we had touble with equitment staff even had a wreck were our main bit of equiment was wrote off but 8 months later we are sitting here and doing quite well we have pick up lots of new contacts for putting ourselves out there we show up on time and do a good job which is very rare here looking back would we do it again we dont know we had a good life in the uk and friends thought we were supid but this is our home now and i wouldnt want to go back
what worries me at the moment is the amount of people I am meeting that are just here on a e2 status are the embassy going to get wise to this and not approveing them for a e2 visa when they apply so many people have bought businesses on this and what happens if they have to go back to the uk in a emergency if any one whats to e mail me about any problems they may have please do so because I can assure you we have probley been there we keep saying we should write a book on the things we have been though but people wouldnt belive it

[JulieC]

Firstly things at the embassy re issuing of E2 visas have deteriorated considerably since Dec 2004 which is when a new and mich sticter officer took over. There are huge backlongs and processing delays now with many and repeated requests for further evidence, some people have been waiting a year or more. A fair number of people are now being denied their visas and others sent off into the black hole called administrative processing and those who get through are usually only given two years now.

As to problems with businesses, yes we had ours with our first business, basically loss of contracts shortly after closing. We were fortunate enough to be able to build something else up alongside. Someone on another forum is going home after 7 months because his business wasnt as he thought it was when he arrived and closed and it has failed within that short period of time. This isnt as easy as it looks.

[Susie]

Dear Kimmy :welcome:

Thank you for joining our site.

Today Charliesmum and I met with Bill Rufty who is the political reporter from The Ledger in Orlando Fl. He was very sympathetic and amazed that people on an E visa have to go back to their homeland to renew, children of E visa holders cannot get earned LPR and have to either go back to their homeland or find an alternative way to remain legal in the USA

We were with him for approx one and a half hours and discussed all sorts of issues. He has promised to support us all at expats voice and is working on a feature.

Dread to think what the photos will come out like! Well we wait and see.

Rome was not built in a day but with input from members the foundations have been laid. So please pass the word around to anyone you know who is an expat with immigration conerns and encourage them to join and partake.

With the help and support of all members we will be moving forward with our efforts.

Kimmpy please post any telephone numbers you have so that others may benefit, Thanks

[kimmy]

the number I have for the e2 treaty office is 0207 894 0544 but I know freinds of ours have been trying it and not being able to get thought but it might be worth a go
thanks susie for starting to do things to improve our chance of trying to live here permently I think if we can make americians aware of what we have to go though to try and live here they will be shocked I know many that we have told cannot belive it they all just think we just come over and that we can become a citizen we have invested a lot of money and to think at a whim of some person they can send us home when our visa is due just frightens the live out of us
if I can do anything to help just let me know as I am also waiting for a workers authoriseation number
thanks kim

[Susie]

Hi Kimmy

Thank you for your kind words I truly appreciate them. You would be helping millions of people if this site takes off so please keep passing the word around.

As you know the site has only just gone live and will take some time to build up, but if we all pull and unite together am sure it will work. We have laid the foundations and now need to start building

Together we can make a difference! Please encourage your friend to join and post often

Could you please put a post in the introduce yourself section, and tell us your story so far.

This is so when Senators etc., look at the site this will be a good area to get a feel of many issues we all face

[JulieC]

The E2 section at the embassy do not like answering telephone calls, they used to answer emails but now people usually only get a standard reply. This means no one can find out much about anything. Black hole isnt putting it too strongly.

[Susie]

Hi

There is a number you can call to book a non immigrant appointment, the trouble is you cannot ring this number from the UK so of no use to many


For those in the UK the number is 09055 444546 The calls cost 1.00 + per minute or try 0906 8200290

The direct line to American consulate is 01144 207 499 9000

I cannot understand why the USCIS in the USA has a toll free number at all. Whenever I have called them I have waited in line for over a half hour. Then a clerk answers the call, all they are able to do is read off cards and if they feel you need to speak to an immigration officer will transfer you. Agin you can wait up to another half hour.

This must be costing thousands of USD. I cannot see why we cannot e-mail straight forward questions and receive an e-mail back within 48 hours. This facility should be available in the USA and consulates.

The money they save on reduced phone bill and making clerks redundant could be better spent on employing more immigration officers so they could work on reducing backlogs

Hope this helps

[JulieC]

My husband spent three hours on the phone to Texas the other day, first of all through the automated messages, press button one etc, the only way to speak to a real person is to mess up all the replies, then he got through to someone who just read the blurb off their website, then through three more people and eventually to an immigration officer. It was a salutory experience but at least we learn what was happening with our motion to reopen, we learned more in that time than our attorneys have done in weeks of writing them polite letters which never got a reply.

[Sharon]

Hi

I spent ages in the queuing system so much so I took the walk about phone with me

Made a cup of coffee, filled the dishwasher, did the laundry, picked up the kids toys , oh and then went to the bathroom

Then had to wait some more!

Hopeless

[JulieC]

Well speaking to USCIS while in the bathroom says it all really, doesnt it!!!