Britons' dreams of US visas shattered

US police and the State Department are investigating several companies suspected of involvement in a series of visa scams in which British families have lost millions of pounds.

A BBC investigation has found that more than 50 families have in some cases been left homeless after they paid out an estimated $7m to companies that claimed to be able to help them obtain visas to emigrate to America.

Frustration at the lack of help from the American authorities has boiled over, with one Briton being arrested for allegedly attacking an ex-employee of one of the companies with a baseball bat.

The first case involves a company called Royal Development, which advertised in a British magazine claiming it could help would-be emigrants to America gain a much sought after E2 business visa.

Three thousand Britons gain this visa every year and it can help them live and work in the US until they retire.

A dream come true

Among those who answered the advertisement were Paul and Shireen Butterfield who sold their house to pay more than $150,000 to Royal Development.

The money was meant to go towards creating a house-building business near Orlando in Florida.

The plan was that Royal Development would then submit an application for a business visa to the American embassy in London, on the basis that the Butterfields had a viable company in US, which is one of the requirements of the E2 visa.

"It was a dream come true for us," says Mr Butterfield.

"Everything that we needed to make a success in America and live the American dream.

"Unfortunately that wasn't the case."

High tension

Royal Development began operating in 2003 and since then has signed up an estimated 26 families who paid between them $2.6m.

It has yet to secure a single visa and has built fewer than ten homes in Florida, many of which are unsellable because of legal wrangles with contractors.

It has emerged that the company's founder, Michael Leggett, left the UK in 2003 after a double glazing company he ran in Norwich went into liquidation, owing nearly half a million pounds to customers and suppliers.

Because they have failed to get their visa the Butterfields were eventually deported from America and are now living in the spare room of a relative's house in Cannock in Staffordshire.

Tensions have risen to such a level that when Mr Butterfield recently returned to Florida to try and wind up his affairs he was injured after he got into a fight with an ex-employee of Royal Development.

Mr Butterfields was arrested and released on bail.

The State Department has said it is investigating Royal Development over allegations of visa fraud including claims that the company forged some of the paperwork to boost their chances.

Michael Leggett pulled out of a BBC interview, but in a brief phone call denied he had ever promised to obtain visas for his clients, insisting "no one in their right mind would promise anyone anything like that".

Documents obtained by the Five Live Report show some of the company's money was spent on cigars, lingerie and a visit to a London lap dancing bar.

Caution urged

In a second case involving a company called Central Florida Visa Group, an estimated 25 Britons paid over $4.5m dollars to help them obtain E2 visas.

"I've lost everything. I had to remortgage my house to do this and now I might be sacked by my company because I've taken so much time off work to try and sort this out"
Golf course manager Dustin Houghton

All received phone calls and emails from the company's founder, Florida businessman Doug Hall, claiming their money had been stolen by an employee.

Police sources say their investigation is focusing on Mr Hall as having stolen the money.

Golf course manager Dustin Houghton from Bournemouth says he lost $215,000 to Mr Hall.

"I've lost everything. I had to remortgage my house to do this and now I might be sacked by my company because I've taken so much time off work to try and sort this out."

Mr Hall has denied that he stole the money.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in London urges Britons to be cautious about who they hired to find a business in America and obtain an E2 visa.

"Don't get the same person who is sorting out your visa to find a business for you," says consul general John Caulfield.

"If they want you to invest in their business they are not going to be realistic about the realities involved in obtaining an E2 visa."

The Five Live Report: Scams in the Sunshine State is on Sunday 14th January at 1100GMT on the Julian Worricker Show.