“Americans are Engulfed in Political Wildfire”: Investment Migration People in the News This Week

Investment migration people in the news this week included:

• Henley & Partners
• Grahame Salt of Frank Salt Real Estate
• David Lesperance of Lesperance & Associates
• Richard Haller of Sable International
• Sophie Barrett-Brown of Laura Devine
• Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels
• Arton Capital
• Anthony Liew of MM2H Consultants Association
• Piyush Gupta of CanAm Enterprises

The Republic – Why Nigerians Buy Foreign Citizenship

In 2020, more than 1,000 Nigerians enquired about citizenship through CBI programmes, according to Henley & Partners, a migration and citizenship consultancy based in London. But Nigerians are only part of a larger trend as CBI consistently attracts people from all over, particularly in Africa and Europe. While some individuals seek CBI in order to overcome disadvantages associated with their initial citizenship, others may have more discreet motives to hide and protect their wealth. 

The Times – The golden visa scheme that left Malta with ghost towns

Malta’s golden passports and visas are the most popular in Europe, according to Henley & Partners, an international citizenship and residency advisory company. Perhaps too popular. The schemes have been mired in controversy since their flaws were exposed by the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in 2017.

[…]

“The Maltese real estate market is incredibly active, there’s about 17,000 properties sales a year, which for a small island is a big number,” says Grahame Salt from Frank Salt Real Estate, which was founded by his father, Frank, in Valletta in 1969. “Interestingly, about 90 per cent of those sales are to Maltese.”

[…]

“You have to remember that Malta has no natural resources,” Salt says. “So we make our money from tourism, a bit of manufacturing, financial services, tax benefits and residency programmes. Malta has offered these since the 1960s and they attract very, very high-net-worth individuals to the island — the right type of people.”

City AM – The Trump effect? Why super-rich Americans are moving to the UK

Henley & Partners, a residence and citizenship specialist, recently reported a 504 per cent increase in the number of enquiries it gets from American citizens compared with just four years ago, with many clients either side of the electoral divide, it said, citing the country’s high stakes election as a core motivating factor.

[…]

And yet because the US is one of the few major economies to apply its taxes based on citizenship rather than residence, little of this, explains David Lesperance, a founding partner of the tax advisory Lesperance & Associates, factors into his US ultra-wealthy clients’ decision making.

[…]

“I’ve got freaked out Americans who are telling me, ‘I don’t want to live in a MAGA America, I think it’s going to be a sh*tshow. I want to go somewhere I can feel safe,’” he says. “Gun violence is a big deal in the US. Political polarisation is a huge concern.”

Fortune – LinkedIn cofounder and Democratic mega-donor Reid Hoffman might leave the U.S. after Trump win

“Americans are engulfed in a political wildfire,” David Lesperance, an international tax and immigration advisor for the ultrawealthy, told Fortune ahead of the election. “Their natural reaction is to fight the political wildfire through voting, lobbying, political donations, etc. However, many realize that even with their most earnest firefighting efforts, it is called a wildfire for a reason. That is why they are getting the fire insurance of a second residence or citizenship.”

Biz News – Greek golden visa opportunities remain despite tightening on popular islands  – Richard Haller, Sable

In an interview with Linda van Tilburg for BizNews, Richard Haller, an immigration specialist at Sable International, discusses the evolving landscape of Golden Visa programs in Europe, focusing on Greece and other countries like Spain and Portugal.

[…]

So interestingly, what we’re seeing in Greece for the first time is the advent of these big master plans. If you go to Athens now and you drive past the old airport, they’re redeveloping that into a couple of thousand residential opportunities. I think it’s a six-star hotel on the beachfront, and it’s essentially a smart city plan with walkways and parks. The real estate market in Greece is maturing; it’s happening. We’re seeing some large-scale master plans in Crete as an example – amazing developments are happening. It’s a bit like we saw in Mauritius, 10, 15 years ago, where you saw lots of exciting new developments that we are in Greece.

The Telegraph – Britain, Canada… Jupiter? A liberal celebrity’s guide to fleeing the US

“It’s certainly a trend we have been seeing, as we did eight years ago,” Sophie Barrett-Brown from leading immigration lawyers Laura Devine told The Telegraph.

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“There is no route for someone to get in because they are just loaded, you have to be actively doing something,” Ms Barrett-Brown added.

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While the UK is popular, it is not the only destination of choice, Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, an honorary reader in migration and politics at Kent University and an expert on overseas Americans told The Telegraph.

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“The UK is one of the places that people are looking at – but not the top one I’ve been consulted on. People seem to be more interested in EU countries,” she said.

Moneywise – Rich Americans are now applying for passports, foreign investment visas at record levels — here’s where they’re going and why

Americans are now the No. 1 group applying for investment migration programs, with 53% of American millionaires and 64% of younger millionaires (aged 18 to 29) saying they’re likely to leave the U.S. after the election — regardless of the winner, according to a survey by Arton Capital, an immigration adviser to the wealthy.

Free Malaysia Today – Consultants back Tiong’s ‘revitalised’ MM2H programme amid calls for sacking

The MM2H Consultants Association has declared its support for tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing’s revitalised Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, amid calls for him to be replaced.

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Its president, Anthony Liew, said MM2H has been a significant contributor to Malaysia’s economy, attracting high-net worth individuals from around the world, while the revamped programme under Tiong has enhanced its appeal.

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“We are confident that, through Tiong’s guidance and the dedicated team at the ministry, the revamped MM2H programme will be a resounding success. We pledge our full cooperation and support to ensure its smooth implementation and long-term sustainability,” he said.

Financial Express – H-1B, EB-5 Visas, US Green Card: How Trump’s policies will shape the path to residency in America

The Trump administration, set to take office on January 20, 2025, is expected to implement changes to EB-5, H-1B visa, and green card rules, affecting immigrants and international students seeking to study in the US. In an interview with Financial Express Online, Piyush Gupta, Vice President, India and Middle East, CanAm Enterprises, discusses potential changes for students, EB-5, H-1B visa, and green card aspirants.

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There is optimism for the EB-5 program under the new administration, largely due to its bipartisan support and economic benefits through job creation and foreign investment. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act brings added stability to the program, making it less vulnerable to sudden policy changes. This strengthened regulatory framework makes EB-5 an attractive option for Indian immigrants, especially those on H-1B or F-1 visas, seeking faster access to green cards while navigating approval wait times. For Indian investors, EB-5 now stands as a stable, secure path to U.S. residency.