REQUIREMENTS

The easiest path to Canadian permanent residence and citizenship for yourself and your family, is through the Federal Immigrant Investor Program (“Investor Program”). The Investor Program is aimed at individuals with business experience who are willing to make a temporary investment in Canada. The requirements are:

• (i) the investor has two years or more of business experience within the previous 5 years;
• (ii) the investor has a legally obtained net worth of CDN $800,000 (about US$800,000); and
• (iii) the investor will deposit CDN$400,000 (US$400,000) in an insured Canadian bank for 5 years, with the entire deposit guaranteed to be returned to the investor by the Canadian government without interest after 5 years.

ADVANTAGES OF INVESTOR CLASS

The advantages of this program are simple:

• There are no conditions placed on the investor and their family after arrival in Canada. Simply put, once permanent residence is obtained the investor is not required to setup a company or business in Canada.
• Your legal fees are refundable* to you once your Canadian permanent residence is granted. This is our free legal fee guarantee provided to all our investor class clients.
• The processing times range between 12 months to 24 months (more or less in some visa posts). These times are on par with the worker immigration applications.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. Why do investors immigrate to Canada?

• In our experience the most common reason for investor immigrants is the quality of life and the opportunities that their children will have in Canada. Canada is consistently ranked in the top five countries to live in the world due to safety, freedom and business opportunities.
• Business immigrants also come to Canada for stable business opportunities in the resource and high technology sectors. In the midst of the 2008 recession the World Economic Forum has proclaimed Canada to have the world’s soundest banking system (see link here).

Q2. I do not wish to invest $400,000. Is there another option?

• Canadian banks provide loans to immigration investors. For a fee of $120,000 the investment loan is completely financed by the Canadian bank.
• Many investors prefer to pay $120,000 and and invest the balance of $280,000 in their own country. At 7.4% per year or better an investment in one’s own country will yield better results than depositing a total of $400,000.

Q3. Your site says your fees are free, what does this mean?

• Most banks in Canada refund investor’s legal fees through commissions to the law firm. Once your application is approved by Canadian immigration authorities our office will refund your initial processing deposit and you pay no legal fees, application fees or disbursements.

Q4. Am I required to visit Canada prior to applying?

• No, visiting Canada is not required.

Q5. Do I have to speak English?

• No, neither you nor your family members have to speak English.

Q6. How long does the processing really take?

• The application processing times usually depend on the visa office where you apply. Canadian visa offices in the USA and Europe usually process investor applications in 12 to 24 months, for other visa offices please feel free to contact our office.

Q7. Do I have to open a business or close my businesses in my own country?

• No, you have no business obligations after arriving in Canada. In order to maintain your permanent residence you must live in Canada for 2 out of every 5 year period.

Q8. If I make a $400,000 deposit, can I borrow money from the Canadian bank against that deposit?

• Yes, most banks will give you a line-of-credit (“LOC”) to draw money from.

Q9. How can I get a Canadian passport?

• In order to qualify for Canadian nationality and a Canadian passport, you must reside in Canada for at least 3 years out of any 4 year period.