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It seems that the Trump administration may bring in further restriction for the H1B specialty worker visa and L1 visa programs (includes the L1A intra-company transfer visa for executives and managers and L1B intra-company transfer visa for specialized knowledge workers).  There are also concerns that the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program may become much more difficult in future or may even be cancelled.  Wealthy Indians are turning to the EB5 immigrant investor visa to secure a coveted US Green Card ahead of possible changes. The EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program enables high net-worth individuals (HNIs) to gain a Green Card and permanent residency for themselves and immediate family members.  Indian nationals unlike many other nationals are unable to come under the E2 Treaty Investor or E1 Treaty Trader visa category.

Investors are required to make a one-off investment of at least $500,000 into a US company that generates 10 or more US jobs. According to a report published by The Hindu Business Online, filings for EB5 visas have already hit record levels in 2017, with India ranking as the fourth largest beneficiary of the EB-5 immigrant program in the world.

Jose Latour, president and managing director of Miami-based investment firm, American Venture Solutions, said: “Heightened awareness of the EB-5 program, and the fact that there are not many other avenues available for Indian nationals to obtain their US Green Cards, have contributed to the increase of EB-5 filings this year.”

Sanwar Ali, Editor of Workpermit.com reviews Trump Visa Policy and US Business Visas

Indians cannot come under the E2 Treary Investor Scheme or E1 Treaty Trader visa schemes.   There is no quota for these US visa schemes.  Perhaps in an “unofficial” attempt to restrict entry of Indians on US work visas India is not on the list of Countries whose nationals can come under the E2 and E1 visa schemes.  The EB5 investor green card visa is expensive.  It still remains the case that Indian entrepreneurs can come under the L1A Executive or Manager visa or EB1C Employment based immigrant visa as an executive or manager.  There may be other options to consider as well as the EB5 Immigrant Investor option.

Possible H1B Visa salary hike will also affect Indians

Currently, the US government is considering plans to more than double the H1B salary requirement from $60,000 to $130,000 as part of the H1B Reform Bill, a move that would make the program virtually inaccessible for most Indian students graduating in

Rogelio Caceres, Co-Founder and CMO of US-based private investment firm LCR Capital Partners, which supports the EB-5 programme said: “As the new Trump administration considers new legislation that could restrict traditional US immigration options such as the H1B and L1 visa programs, Indian HNIs are increasingly getting attracted to the EB-5 program. Our clients are attracted to the reliability and timeliness of the EB-5 program as well as the broad bi-partisan support the program has amongst both political parties.”

It is possible that the US government will try to scrap the EB-5 program altogether by the end of April, 2017. Hopefully the Trump Administration will not take the extreme route of trying to cancel the EB5  Immigrant Investor Visa route. Perhaps it is more likely that the minimum investment requirement be increased from $500,000 to $1,300,000.

US investment companies say that the Trump administration will not scrap the EB-5 visa, but suggested that the program would face a number of key changes. Latour said: “EB-5 will continue, with whatever changes are invoked. New regulations may well be in place even before the current April termination of the pilot program extension.”

The EB-5 visa program has made news in recent years due to a series of scandals.   However, many would argue that this US visa is good for the US economy as it brings jobs and investments into the US.

The temporary extension that’s currently keeping the EB-5 program alive is set to expire on April 28, 2017. On January 13, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) did issue a notice of proposed new regulations for EB-5, with comments required by April 11.

The fate of the EB5 immigrant investor visa route now looks set to be decided in the coming weeks.

 

Source: workpermit.com

Minister for health and environment Dr Kenneth Darroux has stressed that any myths being spread about Dominica’s citizenship by investment (CBI) programme should be dispelled.

“I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, that we make no apologies for this program. We would have taken note of some of the concerns raised by our citizens and also outside people. We would have heard a number of international agencies, we would have heard the US ambassador recently while she raised areas where we think we can improve on it, but the idea that the CBI programme is this under table programme that ministers and other government officials going around selling passports in briefcases etc, all of this, we need to dispel that notion. It’s a bona fide programme that even the best and some of the more developed countries in the world are engaged in such programmes,” he said.

Darroux reiterated that the programme is a critical source of revenue that is being used to improve the lives of all Dominicans, especially those in the rural communities, and he urged Dominicans to support the citizenship by investment programme.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony of more than $1 million to various village councils in his constituency for infrastructure rehabilitation, Darroux stated that funding from the CBI programme is crucial, especially post-Tropical Storm Erika.

“While I think some people are trying to destroy the programme, we have to, especially those of us living in the rural areas where we see, for example, improvements in our community roads, where monies are helping people with their small businesses, and our washroom programme, we have to appreciate and pray that this programme continues to be as successful as it has been,” he said.

“Without this source of funding, as we speak, none of what we see happening now would be happening… All of this community enhancement is made possible through proceeds from the citizenship by investment programme,” he emphasised.

 

Source: antiguaobserver.com

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced major changes to citizenship laws, making it tougher for foreign nationals to become Australian citizens.

Aspiring citizens will have to undergo tougher tests on their English language skills and ability to demonstrate “Australian values”, Turnbull said.

He unveiled the tighter requirements on Thursday. As part of the new measure, the waiting period has been extended for applicants before they are handed out citizenship, reported 9news.com.au.

The applicants will also be required to have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for at least four years (up from one year) and will only be allowed to fail the citizenship test three times.

At present, there is no limit to the number of times a person can fail the test.

Turnbull said the changes would ensure that migrants were better integrated into the community.

“It is important that they understand that they are making a commitment to our Australian values,” he said.

The current citizenship test — a multiple-choice questionnaire — tests an applicant’s knowledge about Australian laws, flags and national symbols.

Turnbull said this test was not not enough to assess whether an applicant has understanding of and commitment to “Australian values” and responsibilities.

In explaining what constituted “Australian values”, Turnbull said migrants must demonstrate support for religious freedom and gender equality.

The test the prospective citizens are required to pass will focus on respect for women and children. It will also reportedly include possible questions about child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence, according to the report.

“If we believe that respect for women and children and saying no to violence… is an Australian value, and it is, then why should that not be made a key part… of our process to be an Australian citizen?” Turnbull asked.

The announcement comes two days after Turnbull outlined an overhaul of the 457 temporary foreign worker visa system.

The 457 foreign worker visa programme will be axed and replaced with a new “Australia first” visa programme.

Source: ianslive.in

As Brexit puts a question mark over the rights of EU nationals in Britain, Lithuania is rushing to let its citizens keep their Baltic passports if they opt to become British.

 
A bill tabled in the 141-seat parliament would allow dual citizenship for Lithuanians living in fellow EU and NATO countries at a time when the ex-Soviet state of three million people continues to see an exodus of workers.

“The bill will allow us to keep our compatriots who left from severing their last remaining link to their homeland,” Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis told public radio on Tuesday.

Dual citizenship is currently an option only for those who left the country under the Soviet or Nazi occupations, with rare exceptions.

Under the current law, those who left after Lithuania regained independence in 1990 automatically lose their passport when they become citizens of another country.

President Dalia Grybauskaite said the law, tabled by 114 lawmakers on Friday, could breach the constitution and warned that she may use her veto — though seventy-one lawmakers would be enough to override it.

Around 370,000 Lithuanians have left the country since it joined the European Union in 2004, half of them relocating to the United Kingdom, where an uproar over Eastern European immigration was seen as a key factor in the Brexit vote to leave the bloc.

British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to impose greater control on immigration from the continent, and guarantees for EU nationals currently living there will be among the issues negotiators discuss amid the Brexit divorce process.

Dalia Asanaviciute, the leader of the UK’s Lithuanian community, welcomed the draft law and warned that otherwise a quarter of the roughly 200,000 Lithuanians living there could choose to swap out their citizenship in order to maintain their full rights in Britain.

“Lithuania does not have luxury to lose so many of its educated, tax-paying, English-speaking citizens,” she told AFP.

Source: pulse.com.gh

 

 

Known as a favourite tourist destination with its idyllic beaches and crystal-clear Mediterranean waters, Cyprus has also attracted attention for its citizenship-by-investment programme, which fits well with the property sector there.

In a nutshell, the Cypriot government in the past has established a number of investment incentives for foreigners, but the citizenship programme is especially designed for property investors. It grants citizenship to those who invest in real estate and who meet certain other requirements, and successful applicants gain the right to live, work, study and invest in all 28 EU member countries. Normally, €2.5 million (Dh9.9 million) had to be invested in property, but in September the minimum investment was reduced to €2 million and parents of the main applicant could be included provided that an additional €500,000 was invested in the purchase of a private residence in Cyprus. For those not wanting to part with as much money, an investment of €300,000 grants them Cypriot residency.

The programmes are accessible for any foreign passport holder, but particularly target Middle Eastern clients since Cyprus is perfectly situated halfway between Europe and the Gulf and is connected by a number of direct flights between the regions.

Developer incentives

“The Cyprus residency and citizenship by investment programmes have become increasingly popular in the Middle East and Northern Africa,” says Raheel Shaikh, Managing Director of Mahandru Associates, a Dubai law firm whose specialisation includes multinational immigration and residency law. The firm recently tied up with Cyprus-based Aristo Developers, one of the largest property developers in the country with more than 250 projects nationwide and 50 new projects in the market, including coastal villas, town houses, apartments and golf properties.

“We had discussions with multiple reputable law firms in Cyprus to ensure the smooth residency process of the upcoming real estate investment projects, and Aristo is doing a great job in making the procedures as simple and straightforward as possible,” Shaikh says.

Aristo is not the only developer offering the citizenship programme. Another notable project is the huge Ayia Napa Marina, a €220-million mixed-used residential and commercial development at the eastern tip of southern Cyprus. It comprises luxury residences, including marina and island villas, yachting facilities with private berths, retail boutiques, waterfront restaurants, recreation and nightlife and is the brainchild of Cypriot entrepreneur Gerasimos Caramondanis, who is backed by Egyptian investor Naguib Sawiris.

Yachting destination

The development is designed as a new premier yachting destination with a club character, and it is easily accessible from the island’s major highways and a short drive from Larnaca International Airport. “Apart from being a luxurious marina development, Ayia Napa Marina offers an opportunity for investors from the UAE and the GCC to gain European citizenship,” Sawiris says. “The citizenship incentive, along with the luxury residences, offers a compelling appeal for investors.”

Source: gulfnews.com

More than 1,500 residency permits for Greece immigration have been granted since the introduction of the Golden Visa Investor Program.

Chinese and Russian candidates dominate the visa holders, as is the case with the majority of the world’s residency-by-investment programs.

Some 664 five-year Greece visas have been given to Chinese applicants, with 348 visas going to Russians.

Greece Golden Visa Program: Investment Requirements

-Purchase real estate property in Greece with a minimum value of €250,000.

-Sign a 10-year lease with minimum €250,000 for hotel or other tourist residence.

-Have purchased a property before 2013 currently worth €250,000 or more.

-Own Greece real estate of minimum value €250,000 acquired through donation or parental concession.

-Purchase land with intent to build, provided value of land and construction contract is minimum €250,000.

Egyptians (77 visas), Lebanese (73) and Ukrainians (67) completed the top five nationalities.

With family member visas included, the total number if visas issued rose to 3,809, including 1,580 for Chinese nationals and 787 for Russians.

The figures were announced at a recent meeting aimed at strengthening the program and boosting efficiency, hosted by the program’s administrator, Enterprise Greece.

The meeting was attended by several high-profile members of the Greek government.

Benefits of Greece Immigration Golden Visa Investor Program

• Greek residency for property purchase of just €250,000.
• Live and work in Greece when maintaining residence in another country.
• Study in Greece.
• Visa-free access to the Schengen area of EU countries
• Family members are included.

Stakeholders were asked what they would do to improve the program.

The Greece Immigration Golden Visa Investor Program allows you to apply for a residence permit by purchasing or leasing Greek real estate. You can obtain a five-year residency permit in return for an investment of €250,000.

 

Source: investmentimmigration.com

A Defense Department official says that the U.S. military will continue to welcome noncitizen recruits and that the Trump administration also will continue a long-standing policy that allows members of the military and their families a pathway to citizenship for their service.

“Today’s service members are eligible for expedited citizenship under a July 2002 executive order and the military services have worked closely with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to streamline citizenship processing for service members,” Lt. Col. Myles Caggins said last week in an email to Fox News. “Law ensures that the sacrifice of noncitizens during a time of national need is met with an opportunity for early citizenship, to recognize their contribution and sacrifice.”

Caggins said there are no plans to discontinue or modify the initiative.

President Trump has been a staunch advocate for bolstering the military and has repeatedly expressed his intentions to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. But he has not publicly offered a definitive opinion on the immigration policy concerning noncitizens in the military.

The closest Trump has come to addressing the issue was on Sept. 7, 2016, during a presidential candidates’ forum. He was asked by a woman who served in the military whether he thinks that a person living in the United States illegally who wants to serve in the U.S. armed forces should be allowed to stay in the country legally.

“I think when you serve in the armed forces, that’s a very special situation and I could see myself working that out, absolutely,” Trump replied.

Then, after speaking about the necessity to properly vet people, Trump said, “But the answer is it would be a very special circumstance, yes.”

According to DoD data, 5,000 legal permanent residents are recruited each year under the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Program launched in 2009. The average number of noncitizens on active duty from 2010 to 2016 was about 18,700.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service established the Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative in August 2009 with the Army to give noncitizen enlistees the opportunity to naturalize when they graduate from basic training. By 2013, the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps had followed suit.

In fiscal year 2016 alone, 359 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, also referred to as “Dreamers,” enlisted in the Army, which is the only branch that accepts this immigrant category.

“Concerning naturalization, the decision to become a U.S. citizen is a voluntary individual decision and each service provides assistance to service members seeking citizenship,” Caggins said. “Per U.S. Customs and Immigration Service, more than 109,000 servicemen and women have naturalized through 2015.”

The list of immigrants who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their new country is long and distinguished.

On March 21, 2003, Guatemalan native and U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez was among the first servicemen to die in Iraq. He was posthumously granted full citizenship. A week later, Mexican immigrant and fellow Marine Jesus Alberto Suarez del Solar was killed in action during a tour in Iraq.

Alex Nowrasteh, immigration policy analyst for the Cato Institute, said recruits must have some kind of recognized immigration status to join the military, whether they are a DACA recipient, green card holder or on a work or student visa. He said the military won’t take someone who has no documentation.

With that being said, Nowrasteh said the military is a viable option toward citizenship if the individual accepts the risks and obligation.

“It is absolutely a good thing for immigrants to serve in the U.S. military,” he said. “There is a long history of non-citizens serving with distinction in the military.”

 

 

Source: stlucianewsonline.com

Following a walk out on Tuesday by all opposition parliamentarians after a motion to reverse changes to the citizenship by investment programme (CIP) was removed from the order paper, the opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) has pledged to review every citizenship granted by the current government under the CIP.

The SLP strongly condemned the action of the speaker of the House of Assembly in removing the motion from the order paper of Tuesday’s sitting of the House to debate changes made by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet to the CIP regulations.

The SLP contends that the action of the speaker, which she said was at the request of the prime minister, was illegal and an abuse of power.

The removal of the motion for debate was followed by the prime minister presenting a minister’s statement on the CIP.

“This statement is not what is required by the CIP Act which clearly states what information must be presented to the Parliament and people of Saint Lucia accompanied by an auditor’s report of the finances earned by the programme,” the SLP said in a statement.

“This course of action surely raises a question as to what does the prime minister seek to hide in the operations of the CIP. There must be something wrong about why the prime minister would not want a debate nor submit a formal report – required by law – to the Parliament,” the SLP continued.

According to the SLP, the actions of the current United Workers Party (UWP) administration serve to weaken the reputation of the CIP which, it said, was introduced under the previous SLP government in order to create a well-regarded, well-regulated programme that respects the values of the Saint Lucian people and their citizenship rights.

“Sadly, this vision has been compromised by the actions of the current administration,” the SLP said.

Specific safety mechanisms, including the annual cap of 500 applicants and the requirement to show proof of minimum $3 million net worth, which were specifically created to protect the programme, have been removed.

The SLP said it believes that these changes, along with the cheapening of the level of donation as a qualifying investment and the guarantee of processing all Desert Star Holdings (DSH) applicants within 35 days, should all be reconsidered for the sake of the reputation of Saint Lucia.

These changes, the SLP said, will undoubtedly undermine the national security safeguards that were embedded in the setting up of the CIP. The SLP said it believes that the CIP should be presented as a premium, selective and highly valued option and not sold as the lowest option available to any and everybody.

“The refusal of the prime minister and the speaker to allow a debate or to present a report as required by law to Parliament forces the St Lucia Labour Party to take a strong stand against the present management of the Saint Lucia CIP,” the SLP said.

“Without any hesitation, when the Labour Party resumes office, we will reinstate the net worth requirement and will undertake another due diligence assessment on each and every application granted under the UWP, with our promise to revoke any passports of applicants, who do not meet the $3 million net worth requirement or do not meet the strict due diligence requirements which Saint Lucians expect. Applicants applying for citizenship in St Lucia should be warned that when the SLP is returned to office, we will also demand that all citizens who did not donate the full contribution amount of US$200,000, will be compelled to top up the contribution that they made at the time of becoming citizens.

“For the sanctity of our citizenship, we do not tolerate any applicants who do not meet the first-class standard that we expect from individuals seeking citizenship in Saint Lucia,” the SLP continued.

 

Source: caribbeannewsnow.com

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP), a Canadian immigration program that allows international investors to obtain Canadian permanent residence by investing CAD $800,000 risk-free, will reopen in less than two months.

The QIIP is Canada’s only passive investor immigration program, and is one of the most popular investor immigration programs globally, offering a number of advantages over investor immigration programs in other jurisdictions.

For example, there is no probationary or conditional stage, and a successful application leads to a Canadian permanent resident visa. This marks the QIIP as quite different to the EB-5 program in the United States, where applicants must prove that they created 10 jobs or more within two years. The QIIP has no such provision.

Second, the investment of CAD $800,000 is submitted through an approved financial intermediary. This investment can be paid by the applicant or arranged through a financial intermediary financing option. The investment is guaranteed by a government of Quebec entity and returned in full after five years.

Third, immediate members of the candidate’s family (spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under the age of 19) may be included in the application, and these family members also obtain Canadian permanent residence. Successful applicants and their families may enjoy the benefits of permanent resident status, including universal health care, free public education, and access to world-class universities.

Finally, the QIIP is a route not just to Canadian permanent resident status, but also to Canadian citizenship and the right to a Canadian passport. Currently, Canada’s citizenship naturalization criteria require only four years of residency in Canada within six years, and the current federal government aims to reduce this requirement to three years of residency out of five.

Requirements

• Minimum net worth

Applicants must have acquired a minimum of CAD $1.6 million in net worth by legitimate means, alone or with a spouse or partner. Assets such as property, bank accounts, pension funds, stocks, and shares may be included.

• Investment

Applicants must intend to settle in Quebec and sign an investment agreement agreeing to invest CAD $800,000 with an approved financial intermediary. Applicants must sign an investment agreement with one of the financial intermediaries — a broker or trust company — authorized to participate in the program. The investment can be financed by a financial intermediary.

• Management experience

Applicants must have acquired a minimum of two years’ management experience in the past five years. The experience is not limited to commercial activities, but can also be an international agency, department or government agency.

Preparation is key

The upcoming intake period for applications runs from May 29, 2017 to February 23, 2018, and up to 1,900 applications may be accepted for processing. Of these, a maximum of 1,330 applications may be accepted from foreign nationals of the People’s Republic of China, including the administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

Based on previous application cycles, it seems likely that the QIIP intake cap may be reached before the scheduled end date.

Candidates with an “advanced intermediate” level in French are not subject to the intake cap, and may submit an application at any time. Moreover, their applications are given priority processing.

“For French-speaking and non-French-speaking investors alike, the announcement that Canada’s only passive investor immigration program is reopening is sure to come as exciting news,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“It is a truly unique program, in which investors may take a less hands-on approach to business than is the case in other programs in other countries. I would advise potential applicants to take initial steps — such as proving net worth and working with an eligible financial intermediary on the application — as early as possible, to ensure the greatest chance of success through this program.”

 

Source: cicnews.com

A number of companies from European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Malta, Greece and Cyprus will be at the upcoming International Property Show (IPS) in Dubai, UAE, to woo regional investors with Golden Visa programmes.

A show focused on B2B and B2C meetings with an international reach that explores new real estate destinations with investment opportunities, IPS will be held from April 2 to 4 this year at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Under the Golden Visa programme, individuals and their families get a second citizenship and passport after making an investment in the country’s real estate sector.

The investment options include real estate purchases, cash deposit to a government development fund or investment in one of the country’s main industries.

This year’s edition will see companies offering investors flexible investment programmes with clear legal requirements for easy access to European countries, in addition to the best in real estate and properties from across the world.

Many countries are now opening their doors to residency and citizenship by investment, said industry experts.

Europe, with its vast and improving economy, is a promising part of the world where opportunities to obtain a second passport are booming, they stated.

In an endeavour to provide realty buyers personal and professional freedom, the 13th edition of IPS will focus on investor programmes for global residence and citizenship.

According to experts, the Golden Visa programme for Spain, Portugal, Malta, Greece and Cyprus are the most prominent.

Golden Visa programmes from different European countries grant immediate residency visa or even citizenship directly to foreign investors against a lump sum investment in real estate, or in business and commerce.

There is no requirement to live in a country after making the investment. As such, there is a great demand for the European Golden Visa programmes from investors coming from Middle East, Asia and Africa, they stated.

The growth and proliferation of investor visa programmes in recent years has encouraged several investors to consider for residency and citizenship in Europe and beyond.

As per official data, Portugal has granted 4,202 Golden Visas since the creation of the residence permit system for Investment Activity (ARI).

“Demand for property in the European countries is high and the Golden Visas is an added advantage. As such, it was important that the IPS facilitates a platform which connects the investors to these countries for quick and easy access to a second passport,” remarked Dawood Al Shezawi, the CEO of Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions, the event organisers.

“Housing is an economic asset, an investment and a market commodity. Many European countries offer residency by investment options to individuals who wish to purchase real estate or perform a strategic investment in the economy,” he added.

According to New World Wealth, a market research firm based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the number of investors with sufficient means at their disposal and the ability to pass the strict due diligence rules jumped 28 per cent in 2016 from the previous year, reaching the highest level the firm has found in its four years of measuring.

Obtaining a dual citizenship by investment is a life-changing event giving realty buyers personal and professional freedom. These include advantages such as visa-free travel to number of countries, financial security and increased freedom to invest and create partnerships.

 

Source: tradearabia.com