QUESTION:I currently live in xxxxxxxxx Alberta and would like to move to Maui.How is this to be done,do I need to open a business invest in Maui??I was just reading about an E-2 Visa where you would be required to invest $50,000 and live there but not become a permanent resident.Help

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david ingram replies:

You can by a business as you have discovered. However, that only allowsyou to work at that business.

Likely easier to marry an American and have him sponsor you.

You can read more about the E-2 visa at www.centa.com - read the Jan1995 newsletter in the top left hand corner. then read the "Enteringthe USA" section in the second box down on the right hand side

The following is also about someone else wanting to move to Maui.
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david ingram replies:

There are two kind of visas that might work for you -

The E-2 visa allows you to open a business and work in the US but doesNOT allow you to become a permanent resident and citizen of the US. You can find out more by going to www.centa.com and reading the Jan1995 Newsletter in the top left hand corner. For some businesses, even$50,000 might qualify for an E-2.

The E-5 requires an investment of $1,000,000 but in some depressedareas, $500,000 would qualify. Whatcom Country south of Vancouverqualifies for the $500,000 investment for instance but I do not knowabout Maui.

The E-5 visa gives you an automatic temporary Green Card which is madepermanent after you have shown that the business is still operating twoyears later with 10 full time employees.

the following in Red is reprinted from the State Department's own site.

Visa Categories

Investors

An alienwho invests one million dollars in a business enterprise which createsat least ten new jobs for American citizens or previously admittedresident aliens is eligible to apply for an investor visa. In certaintargeted areas of high unemployment, a five hundred thousand dollarinvestment creating at least ten new jobs for U.S. citizens orpreviously admitted resident aliens would qualify for an investor'svisa.

The investment can be in a new enterprise or in anexisting business. If the investment is in an existing enterprise, theinvestment must result in an increase of at least 40 percent in the networth or in the number of employees employed by the business.

Applying for the investor's visa is atwo-step process...

• First, the investor must file an I-526employment-based visa petition on his or her own behalf with the CISoffice having jurisdiction over the investment site. Please see the CISwebsite at www.uscis.gov for further information. The spouseand child (under 21) of an investor are also eligible for visas basedon the same petition.
• Second, when CONS/IV receives theapproved I-526petition from NVC, the applicant will be sent a detailed list of thesupporting documents needed to apply for the visa. After the investornotifies CONS/IV by fax or e-mail that he or she is ready for the visainterview, we will schedule one, usually within 6-8 weeks. If theapplicant is found eligible for a visa, the visa will be delivered tothe applicant via courier within several working days.
  

Thefee for an immigrant visa is $400 each and they are generally valid forsix months. All fees are payable in cash (dollars or Korean won), moneyorder, or "Logoed" credit/debit card (Visa, Master Card,American Express, and Novus/Discover). We are unable to accept personalchecks.

Thealien investor and accompanying family members will have conditionalresident status for two years. Ninety days before the expiration dateprinted on the alien registration card, the investor must file an I-829petition with the CIS office to gain permanent resident status. Toqualify, the investor must show that the investment was made and thatthe enterprise has since been in continuous operation.
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The best US Immigration lawyer to deal with this subject is likely DavidAndersson at 604-608-0818. In fact he has a structured $500,000 investment which qualifies for this. You might considerinvesting with David in Whatcom County and then just moving to Hawaiiand opening your business there with whatever you need.
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QUESTION: Hi there,

I am a Canadian citizen. Currently, my husband is working overseas andwe are living in Saudi Arabia as non-resident of Canada. Currently, Idon't have any property in Canada.

I would like to purchase/invest in a business in US and would like toobtain an E-2 visa. What are the legal procedures and documentationthat are required to obtain such visa? To apply for this, do I need tohave a house in Canada or not.

I am looking forward to your quick response at your earliestconvenience.

Sincerely,
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david ingram replies:

An E2 visa is available to you whether you are in Canada or not. Itdepends upon your Nationality not where you are living.

If you go to www.centa.com, you will find (in thetop left hand box) the January 1995 newsletter on E-2 Visa by DennisOlsen, former US in Vancouver and an issuer of E2 visas until they weremoved to Toronto. In January 2006, the processing of E2s was opened upin Vancouver again and can be processed through the US Consulate inVancouver if you are from BC and / or the Yukon. All other Canadiansmust go through the Toronto Consulate -
find more at http://www.amcits.com/evisa.asp

Start by reading the January 2005 newsletter. It will give you therules and it is my impression that the approval is a little easier thanthis newsletter states now.

You can start the process and maybe make it a little cheaper by fillingout Form DS156 at - https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp
Note that this is a fillable form

You will also need DS156E - http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79963.pdf

You might need DS157 - http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79964.pdf

You should fill in DS158 for your contact information and work history - http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79965.pdf

You can also see basic instructions at http://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp

Note that with an E-2, your husband can obtain a work authorization towork somewhere else as a rule.

There will be a couple of more forms but this will get you off to agood start and you can do it yourself. However, be careful if you lookfor outside help.

If you need legal help, and are from BC or the Yukon specifically (oranywhere else in Canada), I could suggest

David Anderrson LLB, AILA
200-1095 West Pender Street (same building as US Consulate)
Vancouver BC
V6E 2M6
(604) 608-0818 -

David just presented an excellent seminar in Vancouver on E-2 Visas andhas an interesting proposal for an E-5 Visa which requires $500,000 US but is a far superior visa than an E-2.

If you are from Quebec in particular,

Dan Cuppett, JD, AILA
57 Court Street
Plattsburgh, New York
USA 12901
(518) 566-6666
is an Immigration attorney who specializes in Canadians (particularlythose from Quebec) to the USA.

I would give you Dennis Olsen's(author of the Jan 1995 newsletter) number as well but have not heard from him for the last while and whenI did try and phone him on Thursday, could not find a phone number forhim so he must be in the process of moving, or might even have retired,etc.

And note this well. All your documentation for Toronto MUST be in theformat which you can find at: http://toronto.usconsulate.gov/content/visas/E-28_TI.pdf

If it is not in this format, Toronto will reject the wholeapplication.

Vancouver also has its own rules as in

U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, VANCOUVER
1075 WEST PENDER STREET
VANCOUVER, BC V6E 2M6
Mandatory Formatting Instructions for Treaty Investor (E-2) VisaSubmissions
Effective Date: 01 August 2006
Non-compliant submissions will be rejected as of: 01 September 2006
Effective immediately, the Consulate in Vancouver now requires allcases to be
submitted in the following format. The E Visa Unit will not accept noncompliant cases
for processing as of 01 September 2006.
All submissions must be organized into the sections below. Submissionsmust be bound
and the sections must be delineated by clear dividers with tabs thatstick out from the
edges of the page. Divider pages without tabs are not acceptable. Ifthere are more than
two documents under one of the numbered tabs, you must subdivide thenumbered
sections into lettered subsections with tabs.
Your submissions must be organized in such a way that the reviewer canlocate all of the
relevant facts to make an adjudication within 5-10 minutes.
Once your submission is prepared as indicated below, submit it to ouroffice by mail or
courier. Our addresses for various types of shipments may be found at:
http://www.usconsulatevancouver.ca/content/content.asp?section visas8document evisa
#submitting
Required format and contents:
The cover page and application forms must be loose (unbound to the restof the package)
and placed on top of the submission package.
Application Requirements (unbound underneath cover page and on top ofthe documents
brief in the following order):
1. All DS-156, 156E, and 157 forms, filled out using the electronicvisa application
forms =96 link available on Toronto=92s website (Please note: we requireDS-157
forms for all applicants over the age of 16, without regard to age orgender);
primary contact email address must be placed in block 23 on the DS-156;be
certain to fill in EVERY block on all forms and sign and date; submitonly signed
original forms.
2. 2X2 passport-style photograph on plain white background taken withinthe last
six months. One for each applicant. See photograph requirements on ourwebsite
for further details.
3. Certified check or international money order payable to the U.S.Consulate
General Vancouver in the amount of $100 US per applicant.
4. Dependents =96 provide copy of marriage certificate for spouse andcopies of birth
certificates for all children under the age 0f 21. Staple these to theDS-156
applications of the dependents applicants.
5. Attached to DS-156 for each applicant, include a signed statement ofthe
applicant=92s intentions regarding the temporary or permanent nature oftheir stay in
the United States.
E-2 Requirements:
You must organize the tabbed exhibits following the number/letteroutline below. You
must submit all of the documents noted here, unless otherwise indicated.
1. Summary
a. Concise comprehensive brief of relevant facts
● Be brief, state exactly and precisely how the enterprise qualifies
● Do not waste space with lengthy citation of CFR or FAM texts
● Make specific reference to supporting documentation, for example:
=93The Canadian parent company is owned 100% by the applicant.
See organizational documents showing the corporation is
authorized to issue 250 shares (tab 3C(i), relevant portion
highlighted), and the applicant=92s stock subscription agreement and
share certificate for 250 shares (tab 3C(ii)).=94
b. Comprehensive Index/Table of Contents

2. Nationality of the Individual Beneficiary
a. Photocopy of the passport biographic page for investor(s)/employee(s)
followed by copy for each dependent family member
b. Photocopy of landed immigrant card
3. Nationality of the Company/Evidence of Controlling Interest
If your company is an incorporated entity:
a. Chart of ownership of the enterprise
b. Articles of Incorporation and certificate of existence/registration=66rom the
state/province in which the company is incorporated.
c. Ownership:
● If privately held by a small group of shareholders, submit i)
evidence of the total number of shares outstanding, and who holds
each, and ii) evidence of the treaty country nationality of the
owners of at least 50% of the outstanding stock =96OR-
● If publicly traded, submit i) notarized statement from a duly
authorized corporate officer stating all of the stock exchanges on
which the company is traded, ii) the volume of stock traded on
each exchange (see 9 FAM 41.51 N3.2), and iii) recently published stock
quotations
● Please note, for either of the above, if the ownership is traced to
another corporate entity (such as a holding or parent company
rather than an individual), you must also trace the ownership of the
holding company (ies) all the way back to the beneficial individual
owners
-OR- if your company is a partnership, Joint Venture, LLC, or similar:
a. Partnership or Joint Venture Agreement
b. Shares/stock certificates indicating total partnership units issuedand
outstanding, and to whom they are issued
c. Please note, for either of the above, if the ownership is traced toanother
corporate entity (such as a holding or parent company rather than an
individual), you must also trace the ownership of the holding company
(ies) all the way back to the beneficial individual owners
-OR- if your company is a sole proprietorship:
a. Business Registration
b. Proof of ownership of business assets (real property, etc.)
4. Source of Investment
a. Detailed statement by applicant explaining how funds used in the
investment were acquired or accumulated
b. Debit and credit services for personal and/or business accountwithdrawals
c. Documentation demonstrating how funds were acquired or accumulated:
● Transactions showing payment of sold property or business (proof
of property ownership and promissory notes) and rental income
(lease agreements); -AND/OR-
● Last three years of personal tax returns; -AND/OR-
● Statement from individual providing money to investor as a gift
5. Evidence of Investment
For an existing enterprise:
a. Purchase agreement
b. Proof of financing and funds transfer:
i. Copies of canceled checks or wire transfers from investor for all
deposits, partial-payments or transactions paid in full
ii. All loan, promissory or mortgage documents AND security
agreement; AND, copies of canceled checks or wire transfer
receipts from investor demonstrating consistent payment of
financial obligations. A letter from the financier stating all
payments are current may also be accepted
iii. Escrow agreement, escrow account statement in the U.S., escrow
receipt, if applicable
-OR- for a new enterprise:
a. Inventory listing: shipment invoices of inventory, equipment orbusiness
related property
b. Receipts for inventory purchases
c. Canceled checks or official payment receipts for expenditures
d. Canceled check for first month=92s rent or full annual advance rentpayment
e. Lease agreement
f. Purchase orders
g. Improvement expenses
h. Initial business account statements
6. Marginality
a. U.S. corporate tax returns
b. Latest audited financial statement or non-review statement
c. Payroll register
d. W2 and W4 tax forms
e. Business plan (including pro forma financials for the first fiveyear of
operations)
7. Real and Operating Commercial Enterprise
a. Occupational license, business license or business permits
b. Business transaction records, current/commercial account statementsor
invoices from suppliers
c. Advertising leaflets, business brochures or promotional literature
8. If the applicant is an employee of the U.S. enterprise(executive/managerial;
and supervisory/essential skills):
a. Letter from Canadian company providing specific information on the
applicant and the reasons for his/her assignment to the U.S. The letter
must explain the employee=92s role in the U.S. company (job title and
duties), the applicant=92s executive or supervisory responsibilities or,if not a
supervisor, his/her specialist role, the level of education andknowledge
required by the employee=92s position, his/her employment experience,
progression of promotion or high level training or specialqualifications
and the reasons why a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident cannotfill
the position (if the position is not managerial or supervisory)
b. Evidence of E-2 company owner=92s nationality and immigration status in
the U.S.
c. Organizational chart showing current staffing pattern at U.S. company
d. Applicant=92s complete resume

You can see that there is a lot to do including a business plan (we canhelp here) to show that the enterprise will be a success.

Hope this helps - when you need tax help with all this, you knowwhere to turn.

david ingram

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