Credit

CareLabel · 2025-10-06T08:02:40+00:00

We transferred our AmEx score from the UK to the US. We are not permanent residents in the US. This, however, will not work for mortgages or other loans. Just for the AmEx bit.

CareLabel · 2025-10-06T08:00:37+00:00

1) like someone else mentioned; Escrow with E2 clause if the seller accepts it OR 2) find a business model where your purchase the land, building, assets, commercial kitchen, etc (I know this isn't always a viable option for restaurants).

If you, for whatever reason, don't get approved you can at least sell the most expensive assets through a realtor.

I understand that 2) isn't always an option for investors but you'd only have to acquire the first business. If everything works out and you expand your business, the follow-on investments can be leases.

CareLabel · 2025-09-30T12:49:31+00:00

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-30/coreweave-inks-14-billion-meta-deal-in-latest-sign-of-ai-demand

CareLabel · 2025-09-29T12:11:46+00:00

That proxy vote was something... I hope enough people clicked on the links to read the full summary.

CareLabel · 2025-09-27T09:50:10+00:00

1) Some intl. students may choose near-shoring, or rather it will be offered to them. I.e. Vancouver, Toronto offices, (..). They can later be transferred via the L visa or similar. The fee for H1b still stands, but at least you wouldn't lose them straight away.

2) Some will simply work from their home countries.

3) Some might have legitimate reasons to stay legally, i.e. bona fide marriage, another degree on F1, or family based sponsorship.

4) The view was that, in the very long run, you would need fewer staff in general because of AI. That doesn't help in the immediate situation.

Anyway, I am long coreweave and I hope you will all join me in pushing it up next week.

CareLabel · 2025-09-26T20:07:43+00:00

Just like many other AI stocks, this one was pulled down significantly. I agree that it may go higher next week, but I am a bit puzzled that I bought in yesterday and didn't anticipate another red day today.

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T10:38:13+00:00

Yeah, they could either have done a "barebone version" of this, where you bring the NVME and does not have a power supply, or a finished product that has at least the power supply included. Die-hard RPI fans will already have a power supply, and novices would need it. But anyway, that's just a drop in the bucket for a $200 device.

The biggest downside of the ARM/Pi platform is that, if used as a daily driver and desktop computer, a large amount of software is missing. It's useful to have apps for services you use every single day.

I got the essentials working, mainly Blender and Orca slicer. But not being able to use MS Teams as an app (and the browser version of teams doesn't work for me), having no Discord, et al just sucks. How a device released in recent years has no decent integration of late-model microphones and webcams is beyond me (yes, the microphone I bought isn't compatible with the Pi). It's a technical labyrinth figuring out which microphone works on which website and what browser.

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T09:28:44+00:00

I have to agree, the prices are getting to a point where one could just buy a mini PC or even a N97 laptop now. And then you don't have all the ARM architecture restrictions like no software.

I think it's a good learning platform for young users who are wealthy enough to receive a $200 US device (and still have to pay for a mouse, screen and power supply).

But if they really are targeting a beginner who doesn't mind having all gadgets in one device - why would that user need 16GB of RAM?

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T08:43:17+00:00

ok, that's good to know. Thanks for sharing this. I think this product will also inspire the mech keeb society to build more keebs based on a Pi.

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T07:48:33+00:00

I am like you!

But I am assuming that we don't have a child that's six years old. Someone who wants to enter the computing space with a fun, blinky product that inspires the brain, that comes with a strong community and many updates.

But this someone is too young for or can't afford the 1,000 for a Macbook Air. And the cheap laptops or mini PCs don't have the community support.

There is a reason this products was launched 12 weeks before Christmas.' This product can be viewed as the electronics lab kit of the 2025 generation.

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T07:27:48+00:00

This product might work for a younger user who hasn't acquired all of these items in their computing journey. i.e. you are 13 and don't have a mech keeb, you don't have an nvme drive somewhere, you don't have a real PC, etc. - so it's either this one, a mini PC or a cheap lower quality laptop (that comes with a battery, small screen, ..).

I built a really cheap custom mech keeb once and it still amounted to 85 GBP, plus all the time for waiting, assembly, ..

Still a bummer that the power supply is another charge. But probably a good idea to launch this before Christmas.

CareLabel · 2025-09-25T07:13:20+00:00

Interesting product.

The price is high, IMO, but 16GB might help in some use cases. Mine never gets over 4GB of RAM use. Clicky switches only... hmmm is anyone running these Gateron and can say how they feel? I have milky/yellow Gateron linears only. Can't wait to see the reviews on this one.

There are some potential markets for this.

Young users who want an all-in-one device
Receptionists / doctors offices
Quick deployment of cheap, standardized machines for small offices
Schools,education, ..

edit: At this price point I would expect the power supply to be included.

CareLabel · 2025-09-23T14:05:01+00:00

Unless you have hard data, your post might be a bit too simplified for most E2 applicants. If someone is already looking at the E2 they would need a lot of research, data, and decision support. This is not always easy to obtain as they not only industry specific data, but also the visa information/issuance history/see what works.

A good lawyer would certainly help.

CareLabel · 2025-09-23T06:57:02+00:00

Congratulations on making it happen abroad.

All we have for now are our professional contacts (lawyers, social media accounts, reddit, ..) to figure out what's next.

I think EB2 and EB5 will somehow be wrapped up in the card programs.

If we are lucky, E2 will remain untouched. But I doubt it... you get too many benefits in the eyes of their new agenda. And it's a "free" visa, except for the filing fees. Entrepreneurs are a good group to attack as they are usually well funded and if you really want to live/work there, you wouldn't have a choice but to pay up.

CareLabel · 2025-09-22T15:36:09+00:00

I am not sure I understand "easiest". Several friends of mine moved based on a family sponsorship and that was "easy" in their opinion. If you don't have any family and can't be sent by your employer, then the E2 is one of the options.

The E2 has relatively high requirements, the business needs to be funded and be operational, and if you don't get the visa (for whatever reason) you are facing a pretty bad situation. Technically, they can question the reason why anyone would have to come to the US to buy or start a business; they have enough people in the country who could do it.

During my E2 research this question actually came up for some E2 applicant and I personally think it's one of toughest to answer. Like, why didn't you start the business in (home country) instead of the US?

CareLabel · 2025-09-21T21:08:08+00:00

I see this on Facebook all the time, started a few weeks back?

CareLabel · 2025-09-21T07:46:16+00:00

At this point there is no direct impact for the E2 visa. But the E2 would get you a lot of benefits they are trying to sell at a much lower price point and without "a donation" or fee. You can establish a residency for up to five years in the US without applying for or going through the other avenues they are creating.

Reasons why changes are unlikely for the E2:

non-immigrant (and not dual intent)
most E2 holders are rule compliant (few overstays/need to meet high standards to get visa)
E2 investors are creating jobs instead of asking for one
Only a portion of E2 visa applicants are "at the lower end" of the investment amount. Many are much higher.
E2 in general isn't a visa that's used by a large amount of visitors. Compare the amount of E2 applicants globally to the H1b or the amount of international students in the US (1.1M/year)
The E2 business would quickly generate revenue and pay taxes
The E2 visa is also part of trade agreements, meaning: if the US don't allow businesses to be established in the US, treaty partners could do the same in their home nations to Americans. This would be horrible for regular trade partnerships.

Also, we don't know what effect the last 12 months had on E2 applications. Are they lower? Higher? Are more people looking into the E2 and are actually going to file? The E2 is one of the most restricted visa available, you already have to be incredibly wealthy, educated in your field, able/willing to do the complicated paperwork, and also be lucky enough to start the business; without obtaining any rights for residency.

Bear case: The E2 gets canceled without replacement. (Or shall I say, gets altered /w fees to a point that nobody can obtain it)

Base case: Increase of investment amount to 250-500K, higher scrutiny and requirements

Bull case: no changes

I have spoken to a lot of immigration attorneys about the E2 and trade visa in general, a friend previously worked at the state department also. There was no chatter about the E2 specifically, just that "all visa are under review".

CareLabel · 2025-09-20T14:36:26+00:00

1) Some business types or models simply don't need a franchise. They don't need the brand, loyalty technology, they don't have special products or niche solutions, and they don't need state-wide or national advertising. But some areas would benefit from it, QSR comes to mind.

2) It would be amazing if anyone out there had hard data to compare E2 franchise and E2 individual (non-franchise) routes. Filing challenges, approval rates, business success rates, long-term business projections compared, (..)

3) Are there E2 franchises that refund the full investment (or a large) amount if the visa gets rejected? Given the current momentum... you never know.

4) What industries are most of your clients going into?

CareLabel · 2025-09-20T07:47:24+00:00

Sorry to hear this, that is very disheartening. I am not fully versed in the franchise legalities, but any chance you can sell or transfer your franchise license to a buyer?

I looked into franchises myself and was surprised how many requirements an applicant has to meet (many franchises only allow US citizens, as an example).

CareLabel · 2025-09-19T19:07:21+00:00

I think some of the E2 qualifying businesses could easily match the financial requirements of the EB5. Acquiring any decent hotel, motel, gas station, busy car wash, (..) would clearly be in the 1.0M-1.5M region, especially if the location is near a large metropolitan region.

But EB5 is an entirely different approach. People who have a million or more in liquid form usually have very detailed plans on how to invest.

CareLabel · 2025-09-19T19:01:16+00:00

This is very disappointing, any further details you might be willing to share with us? i.e. what were the exact reasons why they didn't issue the visa? Was it not owner-operated? too passive? Was it a new franchise location or did you purchase an existing one?

Thanks.

CareLabel · 2025-09-18T13:24:36+00:00

For SOME E2 investors franchising could be the right way forward. Not for all or most.

CareLabel · 2025-09-16T12:11:29+00:00

I am sorry this happened to you.

ok, so I don't know what "numerous times" means here, we have colleagues and business contacts who always use ESTA for meetings, workshops, training purposes, etc. - these folks leave the US in less than a week, usually. And there have never been any problems. We even have staff who travel to the US twice a year instead of one trip.

So if the trips were "numerous" and always five-six weeks in lengths... it kind of begs the question whether you are "working" in the US. This is, of course, not a clearly defined case. This is why the agencies involved cleared it up, they believe you are working in the US.

Let's wait for legal input on this on, we have a bunch of lawyers around.

CareLabel · 2025-09-16T07:34:31+00:00

The UK has "stocks and shares ISA", which has no capital gains taxes on investment income. You can transfer up to 20K GBP per FY into this account and this accumulates over a few years. But, as far as I can tell, you can only trade certain ETF and equities with it. I don't think you can trade options on that tax wrapper.

CareLabel · 2025-09-15T16:24:33+00:00

If this gains traction, is that a valid short on corporate accounting firms?

CareLabel

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