5 days Ago By By Pete Bach The Tribune
They were a young British couple living on the outskirts of London in 2012. To them, the American Dream was a conceptual vision that made sense, so they aspired to move to the proverbial land of opportunity. Fabian and Lindsey Leite, after researching U.
S. geography from abroad, decided to pack up their belongings and two children and make a plan to move to the USA, with their own dreams of that opportunity for their young family. Fabian gave up his successful business as the owner of an IT consulting firm in favor of the grandeur of Colorado.
He and his family made a plan of purchasing a locally owned coffee shop in Monument. With the intent of the Leite’s obtaining citizenship and owning a business in the US, it became increasingly clear that this enormous life change was going to get very difficult even before departing the shores of the UK. It wasn’t long into their journey that the Leites became very familiar with something called, The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
In order to legally reside and work in the U.S., according to Immigration Services, applicable laws must be followed.
Part of the treaty reads as: Applicants must: Be a national citizen of a country with a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States Invest a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business Have at least 50% ownership of the business or have operational control through a managerial position Be coming to the U.
S. to develop and direct a business Intend to leave the U.S.
when the E-2 status expires U.S. Citizenship and Immigratioin Services (January 2012) In addition to these basic requirements, the initial investment had to be substantial enough that it would ensure successful operation and generate enough income to provide a living for the investor and all dependents.
While a visa is valid for from three months to five years, it can be extended indefinitely, as long as all requirements are continually met and the proper fees are paid on time. The length of time is contingent on place of origin, as well as other stipulations spelled out clearly in the visa. “The requirements of the treaty go well beyond what is stated.
There is a lot to it,” Fabian said. “We must employ only American workers, use cash only for any fees, there is NO path to residency, ever, and no loans can be taken to enhance or provide for the business. Cash only.
If you sell your business or no longer have it for any reason, you must leave the country. “We spent a bit over $60,000 in legal fees for the visa, travel expenses and DHS—most of which came in the form of the legal fees. All cash.
No refunds.” Despite selling their home in the UK in a down market of 2012, the Leites were still able to pool enough cash to make the final decision, pay for the visa requirements and fees and afford all moving expenses. “Fabian’s father also helped tremendously by gifting a portion of the money we had collected to make the move to America,” Lindsey said.
The Leite’s are good Christians to the core. Gracious and thankful people, they hold family as their most important priority, while their faith helps lead them to prosperity. They have two children who were born in the UK but have, for the most part, grown up in the U.
S. Their kids are incredibly hospitable and well educated by their mother in a homeschool environment. You’ll consistently find both, “Jules” and “Gabby” at the front counter taking orders or whisking through the dining area cleaning and serving.
And this is no drab Faulty Towers-like atmosphere. It’s lively. It’s loud and boisterous, which is due to the typical full house of regulars as well as new customers sipping hot coffee and enjoying the must-try breakfast sandwiches with homemade bacon-jam.
Note: Wesley Owens also serves lunch but does not offer a Waldorf salad. The business name, Wesley Owens, was questioned as to whether it was to remain after purchasing the existing Monument coffee shop in 2012 from Aric Habeck. Renaming the business to something that lent itself more to coffee came to mind, and despite the irony of the name Fabian, having a South African definition of Bean Seller, and Leite, meaning, Latte, the Wesley Owens name still stuck.
“Jules”, the eldest Leite daughter, has stepped into a management role at the age of just 18. Aside from being the business’s creative genius with cold hands behind the scone oven, she seems to be everywhere at once, attending to the Wesley Owens clientele, assuring their total enjoyment and comfort. Cold hands? “You must have cold hands to be a great baker, as to not change the consistency of the dough with high body heat,” Lindsey said.
“Jules has very cold hands and makes excellent baked goods.” The business started to track in the right direction quickly via local word of mouth and thanks to a great staff comprised of family and carefully chosen employees. After bringing the shop into positive revenue growth, Fabian and Lindsey remodeled the interior of their retail space.
With a much-needed revamp of the kitchen area and by expanding the size, it made for a more efficient service area, not to mention a new stylish décor for their customers that rivals even the biggest chains. “Coffee shops take a real beating. It needed a refresh,” Fabian said.
“The expansion improved how quickly we can create the food, get it to our customers and to clean it up just as quickly.” “Food service is nothing less than a performance and our customers expect and deserve a great one,” Lindsey added. “We give them that.
” It was a long road for the entire family over the last 13 years and adapting to an American lifestyle was not easy. Conforming to a demanding treaty that has no path to citizenship is even more challenging and clearly the most difficult probability to accept for the Leites. However, they continue to apply for acceptance and regularly ask for their customers’ support by encouraging their voices of sponsorship.
Despite the challenges, the Leites are very successful in America — they even have two Labrador Retrievers. They are battle-scarred and have risen from the trenches as many small business owners do. They have not given up the fight to become U.
S. citizens, though, and continue to pursue more of the American dream that they prayed for at the start of their difficult path 13 years ago. “These last two years have been my most happy years,” Fabian said.
“The business is doing well and I’ve had much more time to spend with my girls and wife. It’s been challenging but worth it.”.
