Hi BettingMan,

no need for an office there - you just need a local pattent attorney. Nearly all patent attorneys have a worldwide cooperation network, so if you file a EU patent from the US aor Canada, or from Europe in the US, it is all no issue. I filed many patents in the US - from Europe. No additional fees at all.

Even contrary, US prices are lower as you do not need translations (in EU you have to translate the abstract as you have to file in French, German and English) and lower general fees... So this is not the reason for an US office.