US Visas

[SheWillBeLoved]

DP an I are looking into moving to New York and setting up our own business.

I've had a look at the US embassy site, and the requirements that need to be met to be considered eligable for a Visa, but we don't seem to fit into any criteria

We have no relatives over there, so would have to apply for Employement Based Immigration. The problem being, neither of us have a degree, although DP is more than half way through studying for one, and besides having a degree, the only other way to get a Visa with Employment Based Immigration is to be an Investor. Meaning if we were to set up business - it'd have to employ 10 US citizens and be investing a minimum of £1 million !

If we bought a business, would be able to get a Visa based on the fact that we would obviously have employment once over there?

Has anyone gone over there to set up a business and if so, how did you get around the Visa requirements?

Any help would be great

[SheWillBeLoved]

would we

[admylin]

You might be able to ask and get some good answers from the city-data forum (sorry can't remember the address but google city-data and it come up) - I got some good information from them when we nearly moved to Dallas.

[nooka]

Getting to the States is very hard I am afraid. Try British Expats for good advice - make sure you look at the aticles/past threads before asking questions though!

[UnderRated]

You will not be allowed in to start a business. Or even if you buy one.

[alipiggie]

Unless you have roughly $1m to invest and an excellent business plan in place you will not get in on a business visa. You would need serious backing or be invited to do that. And you cannot get around the Visa requirements sorry. I speak from one who went to hell and back to ensure she stayed here and got a Green Card. Long story as UnderRated would attest too.

You would actually be better at looking at getting in on a Specialist Visa being sponsored by a company and go that way.

[SofiaAmes]

Ok the scoop is (and believe me I know ALL about this). There is a type of investor's visa called an E-2 which involves buying a business in the USA and then getting a "temporary" visa to run it. The temporary visa gets renewed in 5 year increments and more or less lets you live/work in the usa as if you had a greeen card. Although bear in mind that the visa does tie you to the business you have bought, so it's essential that that business remains successful. The requirements for the visa don't specify an amount of money that has to be invested, but do require that the purchased business provides at least 2 full time jobs for people other than the owner and then in addition provide substantially more income to the owner than the State average for the size family being supported where they are planning to live. For example, in California, for a family of 4 (doesn't matter if spouse works and has lots of money) the income expected is around $100,000. This means that the business woudl probably need to be generating at least $200,000 in profits to pay 2 employees plus an owner. Since businesses tend to sell (varies according to industry) for about 2-3 times the annual profits, you would be looking at spending $400,000-$600,000 to buy a business which will qualify for the visa.
Apart from the above, unless you have a specialized skill or a minimum of an undergraduate (graduate is better) degree, you are unlikely to get a working visa.

If you want a recommendation for an immigration lawyer, I have one. However, bear in mind that they are very expensive.

[ninedragons]

Does the US still run the Green Card Lottery? It's not open to citizens but if you are from a country on the Lottery list you may as well enter. IIRC, it's free to do so (though you will find dodgy agents online claiming it's not and you have to go through them).

[ninedragons]

sorry, I meant not open to citizens of all countries.

Silly fingers not keeping up with brain.

[alipiggie]

Yes the Lottery is still run but not open to British Citizens unless you live in Northern Ireland.