Our Latest Newsletter Welcome to E2VisaReform.org It has been a while since our last Newsletter, but 2014 really has been the most frustrating year since we began our lobbying asking for E2 Treaty Investor Visa holders to be part of Immigration Reform. There has always been hope that we can be included within a Bill, or have a specific Bill written for us, and there has been something to work towards. Gathering information from you all has helped us to prove we are helping the US Economy, shown we are from many different countries and cultures and live all over this country we now call home. We can say we have an E2 business within many Districts and if we meet that Member of Congress or their staff that can really help. You may think I have been a real bugbear about Zip Codes, figures and types of businesses, but it has all been for a reason. Believe me I am very strong about confidentiality - I have been asked many times to pass on - or even sell - my Database, but my answer has been and will always be NO. We really had believed this Congress (2013/2014) would be the time for Immigration Reform to happen. So much talk. We know the two sides have differing opinions but really hoped they would agree on some issues - especially about the kids. Everyone was saying it will be safer to know who is in our country and there are ways forward that can be acceptable, but it seemed as though as this year went on all the progress fell apart. This is why I say it has been a roller coaster of a year. One week it seems there has been progress, then there is word that nothing will happen. I have been told about Windows of Opportunity but then they close. My Member of Congress, Dennis Ross, has kept me up to date with Immigration talks. He has just been announced as a Member of the five-person Senior Deputy Whip Team for the House Republican Conference, so I know he maybe knows more than some what is going on. Also our meetings last year with Congressman Trey Gowdy and Congressman Jason Chaffetz were a real high spot and we felt we had the ears and support of influential policymakers. But we cant force the Government to act on Immigration Reform, so until they decide that it can happen we are in limbo. We all know how frustrating it is that when everyone on TV talks about Immigration they only consider the undocumented people and that is a very divisive issue. We just happen to be caught within it. By the way I apologize if I have taken a time to respond to any e-mails in the last few weeks. My daughter and her husband have moved back to Florida, from Kansas, and are currently living with us - along with their very bouncy bassett hound, Mowgli. He had not seen a cat before and we have 7, so it has been an adjustment for all of us. He is getting on well with our dog, Charlie, though, which has been a surprise to all of us!!! We have also had an issue with our son, Tom, rupturing his Achilles tendon a couple of weekends ago. He is having surgery tomorrow, but it has been a difficult and busy time for us. It will be weeks before he can walk again and is currently applying to Med School for next year, as well as taking Summer classes at University - totally bad timing. Immigration Reform - News I am sure you all heard that President Obama has decided to fix Immigration by Executive Order and is looking at what he can get done within his powers. At the moment we dont know if that means he will pass the whole Senate Bill as it stands - which would be good as there is a section in there that states anyone who has been in Lawful Presence in the US for 10 years would be eligible for a Green Card. I know that wont help all E2 Visa holders, but it will help many. A worry could be that his Executive Order will only help the undocumented immigrants, save them from deportations and not do anything for any legal immigrants. Not just us, but students staying at the end of their studies, H1B visa numbers, Start-Up visas and many other issues are included within that Bill. Will he force the House Republicans to act with this threat or is it just political posturing? We wont know till after the summer. Here are some News articles from this week that may interest you: cnn/2014/06/30/politics/obama-immigration/ usnews/news/politics/articles/2014/07/01/obama-to-go-it-alone-on-immigration-pleasing-few online.wsj/articles/the-immigration-reform-collapse-1404255501 economist/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/07/immigration-reform Met the Governor today Florida In State Tuition As of July 1st 2014, HB 851 allows students who attend secondary school in Florida for at least three years prior to graduation to qualify for in-state tuition, regardless of their immigration status. I was told by the office of the Representative who introduced this Bill that our children would be covered. Here is the Link to the Text of Bill HB 851: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/0851/BillText/er/PDF It states on Page 21, Section 12(a), starting Line 501: 12)(a) A state university, a Florida College System institution, a career center operated by a school district, or a charter technical career center shall waive state fees for students, including, but not limited to, students who are undocumented for federal immigration purposes, who meet the following conditions: 1. Attended a secondary school in this state for 3 consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state; 2. Apply for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation; and 3. Submit an official Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation. I know many other States have introduced similar Bills - although do specifically say only for Undocumented Students. For those of you in these States, I suggest you contact the office of the Governor or the Representative who introduced the Bill to ask for students on visas to be included. I would like to quickly tell you about my interaction with my Governor, Rick Scott recently. I attended an event a few Fridays ago where he was speaking. I didnt expect to be able to meet him, but took along a letter telling him about our Immigration issues, asking him to definitely support the In State Tuition Bill as it would help our E2 children and on a personal note explaining that my son was not able to even apply to a Med School in Florida because he didnt have a Green Card, therefore my money would be going to another State. I gave the letter to his Assistant who asked me some questions and gave me his card. I did then have the opportunity to have my picture taken with the Governor - see above - and he told me his wife would like my pink glasses. As it was a Small Business event, he asked me what business I had and I told him a pool servicing business with 4 employees. I then mentioned that I had met him before and had briefly talked to him about E2 visa holders and he asked how our lobbying was going, but didnt hold out much hope for any reform till after there was a change of Presidency. I said oh please dont say that. I was asked to hurry as it was time for him to leave and I just had to hope the Assistant would pass my letter on. The next day, Steve and I went shopping in Orlando and went out for dinner. I was just ordering our food when Steves phone rang and he said to me I think you are going to want to take this - its Rick Scott!!!! He was calling me to say how horrified he was that my son couldnt go to Med School in the State he had lived in for 11 years. We talked for about 15 minutes and he finished by saying this was his personal cell phone number and I could call him personally if his staff didnt contact me. He wasnt saying he could do much to help at this time, as the Legislative Session was over, but he genuinely wanted to know what he could do. To say the least I was very impressed. It just goes to show you that politicians are not as out of our reach as we maybe think. E2 Help Many of you e-mail or phone me with questions and I will always do my best to help you or if I dont know the answer I will try and find someone who does. I would like to tell you though about a forum I have been a Member of for over 10 years that has many other E2 people as members, including many who are considering the move, have just made the move or have been here as long or longer than me. There will usually be someone on there who has been there, done that, and got the T Shirt!!! Here is the Link - the-usa-forum You do need to sign up as a Member to ask questions - you can look without doing this - but there is no charge to join. Im sure there is plenty of other information I can give you, but this has become a longer Newsletter than I would have liked it to be - I know most people dont read it all!!! If you have made it this far, please just drop me a quick e-mail and tell me you read to here. On a personal note from the Adams Family, our son, Tom, has recently become engaged. We are very happy and look forward to the lovely Lauren becoming part of our family. As my main reason for working so hard on this Campaign has been for Tom, it does take a little of the pressure off us. Our daughter, Melissa, was married 18 months ago and now has a Green Card. In a couple of years she will be able to sponsor Steve and me. However I do like to see things through to the end, so dont worry Im not giving up the fight and will carry on lobbying as long as I feel there is an end in sight. Take Care and Happy 4th July Zoe Adams E2VisaReform.org 863 709 9555 E2Reform@hotmail
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:14:19 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015