Our Client: Salih Şahin
Our client, Salih Şahin, decided to make a fresh start in the U.S. after 25 years of business experience in Turkey. Encouraged by his brother’s presence in the U.S. and facing increasingly challenging business conditions in Turkey, he made the decision to relocate to the United States with his wife in 2019. After liquidating his businesses in Turkey and investing his savings in his American dream, Salih Şahin initially arrived in New York on a tourist visa in November 2019.
In January 2020, Mr. Şahin opened his first restaurant in Manhattan, but disaster struck shortly thereafter. The COVID-19 pandemic forced his business to close in February. The restaurant he had invested all his savings had to shut down before making any sales, and his $70,000 investment was essentially lost.
Challenging E-2 Extension Process and Uncertainties
As if the economic loss wasn’t challenging enough, Mr. Şahin also needed to find a way to have an active business operation to sustain his E-2 status. With no active business remaining, he attempted to maintain his status by developing a joint operation model at his brother’s establishment.
When the time came for his E-2 status extension application, he received a serious Request for Evidence (RFE) from the USCIS, due to the complexity of the joint business operation model. His attorney at the time indicated they couldn’t handle this challenging inquiry and considered withdrawing from the case, suggesting that he should leave the United States and wait for the process to unfold abroad.
We experienced some challenging issues with our former attorney honestly. He basically said: ‘”We cannot handle this case. Prepare us a response to the RFE first, and then we’ll decide whether to continue with your case or not.”
- Salih Şahin
Salih Şahin’s options were extremely limited. He had lost his entire investment in the U.S., had disrupted his life in Turkey, and was now facing the risk of losing his status. Additionally, his daughter’s E-2 visa interview abroad was approaching rapidly.
Grape Law’s Strategic Intervention
At this critical juncture, our client discovered Grape Law through a YouTube video. Despite the urgency and complexity of his situation, our team of attorneys at Grape Law took on the case. Understanding the importance of the process and the tight timeframe, our team worked around the clock to develop a specialized status extension application strategy.
We managed an amazing application process together with your attorneys. We calculated everything day by day. It takes approximately 15 days for USCIS to process a response to the RFE but we only had 15 days total. So our only hope was to submit our response within a week and hope for their reply within just another week.
- Salih Şahin
As the Grape Law team, we prepared a comprehensive defense explaining Salih Şahin’s complex situation. We provided persuasive documentation explaining that having two companies at the same address was necessary due to the nature of the business, that the business had to close because of the pandemic, and that the new business model was a response to Mr. Şahin’s new economic circumstances. Furthermore, we updated all his business information, including social media accounts and website, to create a consistent narrative throughout the application process.
A New Beginning in America
As a result of our intensive efforts, our client’s case was resolved with incredible speed. Our request for the E-2 status extension was approved just 10 days after submitting the application file. Furthermore, his daughter’s E-2 visa interview took place a few days after Şahin’s status extension approval, and her visa was issued too. These developments marked the beginning of a new chapter for Salih Şahin and his family in the United States.
I’m glad we had met you and became friends. I am glad we’re working together.
- Salih Şahin
Following this, Mr. Şahin opened a second restaurant and expanded his business. His inspirational story demonstrates, despite significant challenges, how determination and proper legal guidance can lead to business success in the U.S.
Choosing the right attorney is crucial in the immigration process. There are two key professionals in a person’s life: an accountant and an attorney. They can either support or hinder your future. Working with an expert who has firsthand experience with the immigration processes and being able to effectively present your story are key factors on the path to business success.
- Salih Şahin
Working with Grape Law
Salih Şahin’s business immigration journey highlights how critical the professional legal support is. At Grape Law, our fundamental working principle is understanding our clients’ unique needs and developing customized solutions accordingly.
In the U.S. complex business immigration ecosystem, Grape Law’s expertise and proactive approach play a definitive role in helping our clients reach their goals. Rather than offering only short-term solutions to our clients, we provide comprehensive services to support their long-term achievements.
Salih Şahin’s story emerges as an excellent example of this approach and collaboration. His immigration journey emphasizes the importance of proper strategic support and expert immigration guidance. We take pride in contributing to Şahin and his family’s success story, and continue to stand by them in their journey toward permanent residency.