Immigrant Investor Program should be improved: study
A group that provides economic, financial and business strategy consulting to government agencies and businesses released a study at the end of March that concluded that the Government of Canada needs to increase their opportunities for immigrant investors.
The program they feel needs to be expanded a bit further is the Immigrant Investor Program, which pumps approximately $2 billion into the Canadian economy every year.
The Immigrant Investor Program is in place to attract foreign business people to come and invest in Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires that applicants can prove they have adequate business experience, have a minimum net worth of $800,000 as well as make a $400,000 investment in Canada. This investment is then managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and is used to grow the economies and create jobs in various provinces across the country. The investment is returned to the applicant over five years later, without interest.
Over 34,400 immigrants have used the Immigrant Investor Program to come to Canada. When family members are factored in, this total number grows to 130,000. Immigrant investors are allowed to being three family members with them, almost double the amount that other applicants for immigration in economic categories are allowed.
Almost half of the immigrants who come to Canada through the Immigrant Investor Program settle in British Columbia, and 23 per cent settle in Ontario.
Three prominent Canadian economists said in the study that more immigrant investors would help mitigate Canada’s economic and business issues.
Their recommendations for boosting the program’s effectiveness include reducing the processing time of these applications and improving their integration into Canada, and further analysis of the initial contribution and wealth requirements.
Please contact Niren and Associates immigration law firm should you have any questions regarding the Immigrant Investor Program at info@visaplace.com or 416 410 7484
Intake
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
