INVESTOR PROGRAM
The investor program in Canada is the most exclusive and costly immigrant stream available today. A victim of its own success, the federal government suspended and eventually terminated the investor program in June 2014. Since then, only the province of Quebec offers an immigrant visa on a passive basis – as an investor.
The requirements for the investor visa look fairly simple on paper. You, or your spouse or common-law partner, need only demonstrate management experience, have lawfully accumulated over $1.6 million in assets and, much like a government bond, are prepared to lend the Quebec government $800,000 for a period of 5 years at no interest. At the end of the five-year period, the money is returned to you (again – at no interest).
To cushion the cash-flow requirement of investing $800K “up-front”, the government will allow a financial intermediary (which our firm will coordinate with) to make this investment on your behalf in return for management fees and a walk-away loan arrangement at a total cost of about $200,000. For a lack of a better phrase, you can “buy” your permanent residency for about $200K.
The benefits of this VIP stream are obvious. Unlike the entrepreneurial visa stream, there’s no requirement to “plan and direct” the company in Canada. The investment required is passive in that there’s no need to get involved in the day-to-day management of the business. In fact, other than having an “intent” to live in Quebec (which can change after landing with no adverse consequences), there are no obligations once an applicant secures his permanent residency.
Moreover, the investor visa is practically “guaranteed” in that the investment is only required when the government (Quebec) approves your application.
Sounds easy? While the program requirements look relatively straight-forward, it is actually the most rigorous and difficult application to prepare. The demanding part in the program is the detailed chronological narrative attesting the history of lawful accumulation of wealth spanning many years. If an applicant, or his accountant, does not have the ability to document his lawful accumulation of assets, there’s simply no point applying for this laborious program.
Another impediment to this program is its popularity – exacerbated by the federal government’s abrupt cancellation of what used to be the only other investor program in Canada. To maintain a consistent level of service and time-line for processing applications, the Quebec government will only accept 1,750 applications in a given year; via lottery.
Based on 2013 numbers and regional quota targets, an applicant who is not from China/Hong Kong has a 75% of winning the lottery for consideration (not approval – only selection for review at the intake level). Chinese nations, due to a cap allotment of 1,200 files per country, have a 25% chance of being selected for processing.
French speakers (including applicants with only moderate French proficiency) are not subject to caps or any lottery and may apply at any time. Again – winning the lottery (or having French proficiency) doesn’t guarantee that Quebec will approve your application; only that an application will be accepted for consideration for “nomination”.
If you are thinking about the Quebec investor program, we urge you to schedule a consultation to review the stringent program requirements. For an appointment, contact our US Head Office in Dallas at 214-295-6051.
Firm Deliverables for Investor Immigrant Visas:
Detailed preliminary session to assess eligibility. Thorough review of the likelihood of a Client’s eligibility to file and be successful in this rigorous investor program.
This includes a detailed review of the Client’s ability to provide supporting documentation to back his accumulation of wealth spanning at least 5 years.
Preparation of a government-required narrative outlining the accumulation of assets, including the Client’s spouse where applicable.
Assembly of relevant supporting documentation backing up the above narrative.
Preparation of government forms (Quebec and federal) during the visa issuance stage
Coordination with a Quebec-approved financial intermediary (for applicants who wish to finance the $800,000 investment).
Interview preparation in a face-to-face setting at any US location and in select worldwide locations in Europe and Asia (including Dubai).
Assistance with the landing process in Canada and personalized meet-and-greet at the airport in Canada following customs and immigration.