Antigua reveals details on uptake for CBI program – 510 citizenships have been granted, of which 42% were to Chinese nationals, with further strong uptake from citizens of Lebanon, Iran, Russia, Egypt and Syria. It was also revealed that 416 applications were through the National Development Fund contribution option route, while 89 were real estate and 5 through business investment. Analysts have warned that the preference for the contribution route could devalue the Antiguan passport.
IPSA International Focuses on Transparency During Inaugural Meeting of Caribbean Region Citizenship by Investment Programs – Governments of Caribbean nations urged to adopt best practices in their CBI programs. Representatives from Canada, the EU and the United States also attend two-day event aimed at gathering and sharing insights into strengthening CBI in the Caribbean.
Will This ‘Fast Track’ to US Citizenship Be Renewed? – NBC examines the arguments for and against renewing the EB-5 program.
New Australian visa rules would push wealthy Chinese migrants into small-cap stocks – Migration experts in Australia are divided over the potential impact of new rules compelling would-be immigrant investors to invest in small companies.
St. Kitts PM Promises to Reform Citizenship by Investment Program – Speaking at the IPSA conference, Timothy Harris confirms commitment to building international trust in the program. Harris also discussed the importance of the program to the country’s prosperity, highlighting that it contributes 30% of annual revenue. Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Brown revealed that his country’s program would contribute around 25% of total revenue by the end of the year.
Leaders bicker over Malta IIP scheme – Opposition leaders ask for identity and provenance of 13 successful applicants to the program and inquire as to where the €650,000 contribution per applicant is being deposited.
Grenada visa waiver with China comes into effect – Citizens of Grenada can now travel to China visa-free, following agreement made in February 2015.
Investors from China now Jeju island’s biggest foreign property holders – Chinese investors taking up a real-estate investment immigration program have boosted property prices on Jeju Island, a special self-governing province of South Korea.
U.K. investor visa applicants from China soar – In 2014, more than 1,580 applicants for U.K. investor visas were Chinese, up from 507 in the previous year. Increase in applications has led to a lower success rate, down from 99% in 2013 to 85% in 2014 for Chinese nationals.
Dominica PM hails Economic Citizenship Program – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has defended the program amid recent criticism from the opposition Unites Workers Party. Skerrit also highlighted the importance of the program as a source of funding, stressing that taxation would need to be increased as an alternative.