North America
While millions of Americans live abroad permanently and more than over 3,000 renounced their citizenship in 2013, the United States remains the ultimate destination for millions of immigrants from all over the world. The United States’ principal investor class immigration programme is the EB-5 visa. Applicants must invest in a commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 jobs within two years, with a minimum investment of US$1 million or US$500,000 in high unemployment or rural areas. Another option is the E-2 non-immigrant visa for more active entrepreneurs to make a substantial, at-risk investment in a business enterprise and the investor must oversee and direct the day-to-day operations.
The province of Quebec in Canada has an investor immigrant programme. The principal requirements to qualify for the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program have changed as of 2 August 2018. The applicant now need financial assets of C$2 million in cash, real estate, business assets or an inheritance, (previously C$1.6 million).
(2) The applicant should be willing and able to make an investment of C$1.2 million for five years without interest with a financial intermediary, the investment can be financed, typically at a 6% interest rate per year (previously CS800,000)
(3) Applicants must have a minimum of two years’ management experience in the past five years. Applicants must intend to settle in Quebec but this is open for debate, as permanent residents have rights to free movement within Canada according to the constitution. 