Sarasota Business Brokers with Team Mentality

Sunstate Business Brokers

Immigrants to Southwest Florida seeking to buy a business that enables them to qualify for the E-2 or EB-5 investor visa should review the services of Sunstate Business Brokers.  This company has been assisting people to buy and sell businesses for 16 years.  Their website (www.sbbrokers.com) provides information both about their company as well as the process of selling or buying a business.

Sunstate Business Brokers is a team oriented company, meaning that each engagement is generally handled by two brokers, not just one as is the norm in the industry.   The reasons for this are many; first, having a second person involved from the onset ensures that, despite  busy periods,  there is always someone available both to the client, as well as to prospective buyers.  Secondly, they strongly believe that success is greatly enhanced by having individuals with specialized skills responsible for the each of the various aspects of buying or selling a business, including operational analyses, financial analyses/valuations, marketing and sales.

Tony Dempsey and Larry Wilson are the partners that deal with clients who are immigrants.

Tony Dempsey has over 30 years of experience in numerous sales and marketing roles, working the gamut from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.  He has been a business owner and understands the mechanics of owning, operating and selling a profitable operation.  His training and experience as a business coach provides invaluable insights to the business buyer or seller during the sales process.  Tony has worked with business owners as an analyst/consultant identifying key metrics to maximize profitability.  His expertise will yield the business owner a clearly defined exit strategy, maximizing the return upon sale completion.

Larry Wilson is a financial and operational expert in our firm, having also worked for more than 30 years in executive positions in both multi-national corporations and small businesses.  His education is in engineering with post-graduate studies in finance and business administration.  As a current and past business owner, he is readily able to look inside a company to discover the operational and financial merits of the business that enable us to successfully market a business in today’s environment.  Larry began working as a business broker on Florida’s west coast 16 years ago.

Please contact either of these business brokers to find the latest on what’s available for immigrant investors through out the Gulf Coast and Southwest Florida at (941) 896-7603.

Flight Training for Sarasota Immigrants

From our friends at Universal Flight Training in Sarasota:

Universal Flight Training

“We would like to welcome you to United States of America.  Have you considered becoming a professional pilot?  In order to train with the most advanced aircraft in the United States you need a B-1 visa and TSA approval.  Please contact us at 941-388-8966 or go to our website. www.flyuft.com.  Live your dreams in America, after all you can be anything you want to be in life…”

Immigration Reform May be Coming

Two pieces of news today that give us continuing hope that immigration reform may become a reality this year.

• President Obama and his staff continued meetings today with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (this is a group of 27 Hispanic Congresspersons). ABC News reports that President Obama will make a significant announcement on immigration next Tuesday during a trip to Las Vegas.
• The Washington Post reports that a bipartisan group of influential senators, who have been meeting quietly since the election, have reached agreement on core principles and may announce a plan for comprehensive immigration reform as early as Friday next week. The Post article states that this agreement, represents “the most substantive bipartisan effort” towards immigration reform in years.

There have been no details released from either the Administration or Congress.  However, we believe that the political will for immigration reform in both the Democratic and Republican parties is at its highest level in years.

How Immigrants Can Protect Their Assets

Our friend Alan Hazley has shared information with us (in English and Spanish) designed to answer some of the questions immigrants face when it comes to transferring their estate to their loved ones.

Non-US citizens that do not permanently reside in the US and who have assets in the US cannot take advantage of certain tax provisions available to US citizens and residents.  Without proper planning immigrants that fall into the non-resident category may face a significant tax bill.

Click on the downloadable brochure to learn how to avoid this.

For more information contact Mr. Hazley via his website, www.alansagency.com, or telephone: 941 -7559791 cell 941-9623427.

Rodeo Bulls from Britain

Robin Whincup found success in Sarasota through manufacturing and offering mechanical bulls for sale with American staff and American materials.

His story begins in 1985 in the UK where he started a bouncy castle rental company.  As the company grew, Mr. Whincup saw an opportunity.  There were not many mechanical bulls in the UK at the time and he determined to be one of the first to provide this entertainment to his clients.  He bought a bull and shipped it to the UK.  The bull made good money but it was very difficult to transport.

Pondering this problem while at an exhibition in 1989, Mr. Whincup came across a photo booth depicting a wave and surfboard.  When he got home he designed a mechanical stand-up surf ride: “The Surf Machine“.  It was lightweight and easy to transport.  Later he added special motor to make it compatible with the Rodeo Bull and the Multi Ride was born.

The new product was easy to move.  Instead of needing 6 men to operate, the new ride only needed 2.  It took 20 minutes to set up and could fit into the smallest of venues.

In 1990 Mr. Whincup was approached by several interested buyers.  Soon production began and the orders came rolling in.  The company set up a manufacturing facility in England for international distribution.

With growing demand in the US Mr. Whincup decided to build an additional manufacturing plant here.  He settled on the Sarasota area and opened the new factory in 2008.  The company hired an all-American staff and sourced all-American materials for the bulls.  Since they set up the manufacturing base here in FL, they have achieved consecutive record breaking years for the last four years!

For more information on Galaxy Multi Rides, the mechanical bull company, please call Robin Whincup on 941 697 0324 or visit www.galaxymultirides.com.

UnidosNow Event: Saturday, 19 January, Rally for Immigration Reform

UnidosNow is holding a series of rallies for immigration reform with Vern Buchanan in attendance today 18 January, and tomorrow, 19 January.  The first meeting is in Bradenton and the second is in Sarasota.  Come out and let your voice be heard!  

FloridaBusinessOpportunities.com Lists Florida Businesses for Sale

Florida Business Opportunities, Inc., a local Sarasota business brokerage firm, has long been a source of vital listings of Florida businesses for sale.

The company has it’s main office right across from the upscale South Gate Shopping Mall on S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. FBO has agents throughout the state to help you buy or sell a business in many cities.

From their website:

We are Florida’s Business Brokers with thousands of businesses for sale, business opportunities and franchises. Florida Business Opportunities is the expert in the Florida market of businesses for sale. Our combined knowledge of financing, research and negotiations help us close business transactions with confidence for both buyers and sellers.

Using their search page one can search for established businesses and new franchises in every Florida county and in almost any category.

Their blog offers valuable information on buying a business, franchising, and how to be a successful business owner.

FBO even provide a broker directory in case a buyer or seller want to look more closely in a certain area or in needs other business services.

The company is also a member of the Business Brokers of Florida Association.  Jaensch Immigration Law Firm has decided to join the association as an affiliate member.  We will soon be bringing you more information from one of their meetings.

Improvements to USCIS Procedures

(From USCIS Email)

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving customer service, USCIS has recently introduced new options for customers to obtain information and check on the status of their application electronically and has also expanded its call center hours.

We expanded the capabilities of two of our online tools, My Case Status and e-Request, to provide these more flexible options:

• My Case Status now allows customers to view the current status of applications they submit, no matter which USCIS form they used. My Case Status now lets them track, through our Secure Mail Initiative (SMI), the mailing and delivery of USCIS-produced cards and documents. SMI permits customers to use our website to access the U.S. Postal Service tracking numbers of their documents.

• e-Request now allows customers to inquire electronically about applications and petitions they submit to USCIS. They can use this tool to request a follow-up on their case status if they do not receive documents related to three of our most-used forms:
  •  Form I-485, Application to Adjust Permanent Residence or Adjust Status;
  •  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and
  •  Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

In addition, USCIS is expanding operating hours at our National Customer Service Center to include Saturdays. Beginning Jan. 12, customers nationwide can call our toll-free number (800-375-5283) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays to receive nationwide assistance for immigration services and benefits offered by USCIS. Our customer service representatives can answer routine questions on a wide variety of topics related to immigration services and benefits, including ordering forms, processing times, and information on local offices and civil surgeons. For individuals seeking answers to more complex issues regarding their case, we recommend calling the NCSC Monday through Friday for access to case adjudication officers.

Stateside Waivers

In reading the final rule, some notes I wanted to share regarding the provisional waiver: 

1. There will be no fee waivers
2. There are no interim benefits like EAD or advance parole with provisional waiver application
3. It only applies to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens
4. The extreme hardship must be to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent (not a US child, or LPR spouse or parent – this is different than the waivers abroad which allows for extreme hardship to LPR relatives)
5. Does not apply to those with final orders of removal
6. Applies to those currently in proceedings but only if a) the proceedings have been terminated or administratively closed or b) the NTA has been cancelled
7. Does not apply to those who have already been scheduled for their consular interview prior to January 3, 2013
8. Does not apply to those subject to permanent bar
9. Filing fees: $585 for the I-601 and $85 for biometrics. Also, don’t forget the new USCIS immigrant visa fee which will be added to the $230 IV fee and $88 Affidavit of Support fee
10. Must have I-130 already approved and NVC fees paid
11. Proving extreme hardship will still be case by case although they will provide examples in the Form I-601A instructions
12. Does not apply to any other ground of inadmissibility except three or ten year bar – can’t apply if they have other grounds such as prior removal, fraud or misrepresentation, criminal, health-related grounds etc. 

Jaensch Immigration Law Firm establishes Latin business development division

January 7, 2013

Sarasota, FL – Jaensch Immigration Law Firm announces the establishment of a Latin business development division.  The new division will attract foreign investment to Florida.  The firm hired Cesar Gomez to manage the division.

Cesar Gomez

Mr. Gomez was a business law attorney in Bogota, Colombia, before emigrating to the U.S.  He is a prominent member of the local Latin community having served as executive director of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce from 2007 to 2010.  Mr. Gomez was recognized as one of the 25 “Most Influential People in Manatee County” in 2010.

He will also work as a law clerk having received his Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) in International Law in 2011 from Stetson University.  He is a former member of the Foreign Service committee of Tampa Bay and a current member of the University of South Florida Leadership Board.

Mr. Gomez will function as a liaison between the Florida Latin community and law firms, businesses, and organizations in Latin America, steering Latin American investors to the Sarasota area.  He will also help the law firm to offer immigration services such as investor visas, employment authorizations, and immigrant visas known as Green Cards.

“Cesar will be a great asset to the law firm in developing and servicing the Latin market,” says Peter Jaensch, founder of Jaensch Immigration Law Firm. 

“I look forward to offering the law firm’s services to the approximately 80,000 Latino individuals and businesses in the area.  My goal is to help bring Latin investors and entrepreneurs to the Gulf Coast and for the law firm to assist them in obtaining the proper visas to invest, live and work in the U.S.,” says Mr. Gomez.

“Getting a visa and becoming legal is not only a difficult challenge but also a frightening experience that many try to avoid,” says Peter Jaensch. “We have made it possible, with the least amount of trauma, to help foreigners settle in the U.S.,” he added.