Investment migration people in the news this week included:
- Joana Mendonça of Global Citizen Solutions
- Sukanya Raman of Davies & Associates
- Rohit Turkhud of CSG Law
- Nicholas A Mastroianni II of US Immigration Fund
- Jo Eddington
- Nikolas Avgousti of Philippou Law
- Dominic Jones and Mischa Mannix-Opie of Greener Pastures
- Dominic Volek of Henley and Partners
- André Miranda of Fieldfisher Portugal
- Alexander Varnavas of Varnavas Law
- Mark Harris of Sotheby’s International Realty
- Sarah Wells of Dentons
- Simone Robbers of Invest NZ
- Enda Stankard of MA
- Tim Williams of Chapman Tripp
Forbes – Portugal Golden Visa—Government Votes To Extend Citizenship Timeline
Joana Mendonça, General Counsel at Global Citizen Solutions, a consultancy specializing in residency and citizenship by investment, said, “The majority vote in parliament confirms the government’s intended shift towards longer citizenship timelines, as observed in June and again in October with the Nationality Law causing much debate on and beyond the parliament floor. While certain provisions have been adjusted during the legislative process, the overall direction is clear.
Business Standard – EB-5 visa warning: India may face green card delays as risks emerge
According to Sukanya Raman, immigration attorney and country head at Davies & Associates, EB-5 visa issuances to Indian nationals have increased over the past decade, with a sharp rise after the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of 2022.
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“A key driver has been the ability for applicants already in the US on non-immigrant visas to file concurrently, enabling them to obtain employment authorisation document (EAD) and advance parole (AP) within approximately 3 to 6 months, even while their I-526E petition remains pending. As a result, EB-5 has evolved from a niche offering for ultra-high-net-worth individuals into a mainstream, strategic immigration pathway for Indian professionals and entrepreneurs seeking long-term stability in the United States,” she told Business Standard.
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Rohit Turkhud, Member, CSG Law, said the warning is limited to the “Unreserved” category.
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“The State Department has not commented on any backlog in the Reserved categories. We don’t know if that is an error, which is entirely possible, or if it reflects their correct concern. Just knowing the large number of cases in the Reserved categories, it would not be surprising if they announce a cut-off date for those Reserved categories too. This could come to pass as early as June 2026. At this point every month could end up establishing a cut-off date,” he told Business Standard.
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Nicholas A Mastroianni II, President and CEO, US Immigration Fund (USIF), explained how applicants can track developments.
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“FOIA data from USCIS shows that of approximately 13,520 EB-5 petitions filed worldwide between April 2022 and July 2025, India accounts for roughly 22 per cent. That places India as the second-largest source country in the programme after China,” said Mastroianni.
RNZ – South Island’s first ‘golden visa’ deal made
Arrowtown-based buyers’ agent Jo Eddington said the family bought the Lake Hayes house sight unseen, although they had visited New Zealand three times in the past six months.
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”I’m working with three other AIP visa-holders right now – another one is German as well and the other two are from North America.”
Euro News – From Hungary to Cyprus: The European countries where you can still get a golden visa
“In 2026, we are seeing a shift in why families seek a golden visa,” said Nikolas Avgousti, associate at Philippou Law in Cyprus.
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“While some neighbours offer lower entry points on paper, the ‘hidden cost’ of bureaucracy, such as lack of clear land registries or shifting tax laws, can turn a dream move into a legal headache,” Avgousti highlighted.
Forbes – New Zealand Golden Visa Demand Leaps As Americans Seek Plan B
The outdoors lifestyle used to be the main draw for new residents. Dominic Jones, managing director of Greener Pastures New Zealand, an investment and lifestyle advisory firm for people looking to move to New Zealand, says that “While lifestyle still matters, it’s no longer the primary driver for investors. The appeal of space, natural beauty, and a slower pace of life certainly reinforces the decision, but for most investors, the initial motivation is strategic. They’re thinking about stability first, and quality of life becomes an added benefit rather than the core reason.”
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Americans are approaching golden visas as a form of risk management, and while the political uncertainty is prompting many to act now, Jones thinks this trend is part of a bigger structural change. “Wealthy families are increasingly building optionality into their lives, whether that’s where they live, invest, or educate their children,” he says. “While election cycles and policy changes can accelerate interest, the underlying motivation is more enduring.”
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In 2025, Henley & Partners, an immigration firm for high-net-worth individuals, ranked New Zealand’s golden visa (the Active Investor Plus visa) in the top 10 globally for investor protection and ease of starting and doing business there. At that time, CNTraveler reported ranking 21st on Henley & Partners’ list of the 30 great golden visa options.
ABC – Applications for Nauruan citizenship-by-investment scheme increase by 200pc amidst Iran war
Dominic Volek is the head of private clients at Henley and Partners, a global leader in residence and citizenship planning.
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He said the program is achieving what it set out to do – fund climate change adaptation.
The Kansas City Star – Portugal Golden Visa takes longer than legally required, while Italy delivers on time
André Miranda of Fieldfisher Portugal called Amaro’s statements “very offensive and shameless.” Madalena Monteiro of Liberty Legal noted that “applicants find it hard to believe in any promises after years of delays and unmet commitments.”
Greek City Times – Greece Cracks Down on Dodgy Golden Visa Practices
Lawyer Alexandros Varnavas, specialising in investment migration, confirmed that such advertising practices had been observed over the past year. He noted that authorities consistently reviewed contracts to detect concealed refunds designed to bypass legal investment requirements.
Mansion Global – No One Wants a New Zealand Golden Visa More Than Americans
“People everywhere are looking for [a backup plan],” said Mischa Mannix-Opie, director of client experience at Greener Pastures New Zealand, which guides clients through the country’s residency-through-investment pathways. “And those statistics are only going to keep going up. The previous policy was unattractive. The new one is easy to understand.”
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“You then have six months to make your investment or commit your capital,” she said. “I have clients who applied for [golden visas] in Portugal and other European countries, and it took a lot longer.” The Active Investor Plus visa requires that an applicant’s funds stay invested for at least three years, Mannix-Opie said.
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Auckland—New Zealand’s biggest city—has been a top choice for foreign home buyers, along with the lush Southern Lakes region, which includes Queenstown, according to Mark Harris, managing director and founder of New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty.
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“Most people inquiring now have genuine intent. They’re not just tire-kicking for interest’s sake,” said Harris, who is based in Queenstown. “Some listings are getting three or four inquiries a day from the U.S., which we’ve never seen before.”
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Mannix-Opie agreed. “Our clients are not just bringing in money. They’re bringing in great human capital—their skills, networks, expertise and a real sense of wanting to get connected to New Zealand,” she said. “I love that it’s not just seen as a transactional visa. It’s a meaningful life change. People want to become a Kiwi. That gives me goosebumps.”
The New Zealand Herald – Active Investor Plus visa cash rules under review amid idle funds concerns
Sarah Wells, senior associate at law firm Dentons, said she has been working with golden visa investors across successive iterations of the programme for roughly a decade and it was important to see a bigger picture.
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Acting director AIP Investments at Invest NZ, Simone Robbers, said officials do not mandate funds to deploy capital, however: “if approved managed funds require time to focus on deployment, they may be removed or suspended from the approved managed fund list to focus on transacting (and are not able to accept further AIP capital at this time)”.
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Enda Stankard, a managing director at MA Financial Group and investment committee member of the AIP approved fund MA NZ Growth Fund, noted that a tension can exist between funds and their need for cash holdings and a government’s broad interest in the deployment of funds.
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Tim Williams, financial services lawyer and partner at Chapman Tripp, declined to comment on rumours and unannounced changes, but he noted that it would be helpful to reach a “steady state” as quickly as possible.
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“It’s a new scheme. There will always be challenges with any new scheme. Broadly I think this scheme is going well … but every time the goal posts shift, the changes add delays for businesses [seeking approval from Invest NZ] and it costs applicants money to make the necessary adjustments.”
