“It’s All Part of My Doomsday Scenario”: Investment Migration People in the News This Week

Investment migration people in the news this week included:

• Murat Coskun of Get Golden Visa
• Basil Mohr-Elzeki Silvia Cristina Mueller, Dominic Volek, and Rohit Bhardwaj of Henley & Partners
• David Lesperance of Lesperance & Associates
• Francisco Martínez of Next Abogados
• Macarena Ruiz Ballesteros of Ruiz Ballesteros Economistas y Abogados
• Anthony Liew of The MM2H Consultants Association
• Kashif Ansari of IQI
• Alena Lesina of Astons
• Gaurav Nalawade of RIF Trust
• Morgan Owen of ANAROCK Group
• Rabiah Shaikh of Square Yards
• Varun Singh of XIPHIAS Immigration

Commercial Observer – Trump’s Golden Visa Could Boost Commercial Real Estate Investment

“The program’s announcement has already triggered alarm bells in the real estate sector, an industry Trump knows very well,” said Murat Coskun, managing partner at Get Golden Visa, a consultancy for those hunting for residencies in a range of nations. “The program isn’t focused on real estate investment, but talks have started about a possible rise in demand. Wealthy individuals who can invest $5 million often buy luxury homes in the U.S.”

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The current vehicle for foreign investment in U.S. real estate, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, requires at least an $800,000 investment in a U.S. business or property in exchange for a green card. EB-5 attracts “outstanding demand,” said Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner and head of the Americas for Henley & Partners, a foreign investment advisory. It was instrumental in financing marquee projects such as Hudson Yards, and has a significant backlog of interest from investors in China and India. 

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“I think what Trump wants to do is to remarket this, to kind of remind the millionaires that, ‘Hey, you know we exist, please look at us,’” Mohr-Elzeki said. “If they make it attractive in terms of residency requirements, or how long you have to stay in the country and the tax aspect — if they make that attractive, I think that they can have a decent flow into the program.”

First Post – Why Switzerland’s golden visa is a hit among the uber rich

“For wealthy persons with no intention to execute gainful employment in Switzerland, the Swiss Residence Program is a straightforward option: Wealthy foreigners (Non-Swiss citizens), who are financially independent, can apply for a lump-sum tax agreement with the Swiss tax authority. By agreeing to pay a pre-defined annual flat-tax amount, the applicant and his dependents (spouse and minor children up to age 18) will be granted a Swiss residence permit,” Silvia Cristina Mueller, Legal Advisor & Senior Manager Switzerland AG, Henley & Partners, told Firstpost in an email.

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“The business must be pre-approved and either keep or create full-time jobs in Switzerland. The investment must be made in the canton where you reside and maintained throughout the residency. Naturally, applicants who chose this route have the right to work in Switzerland,” Murat Coşkun, managing partner of Get Golden Visa, said to Firstpost.

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“As Switzerland has one of the strongest economies in the world, the country is inherently attractive in terms of political stability, predictability, and security,” Coşkun said. “With high living standards, a democratic and social state approach, very low crime rates, a good education system, and excellent nature, Switzerland is highly appealing to investors and their families seeking residence through investment,” he added.

Mansion Global – Americans Are Racing to Secure Foreign Residency. These ‘Golden Visa’ Hot Spots Are Benefiting.

Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners, agreed that within Europe, Greece’s residency program is growing in popularity following the changes in Spain and Portugal, despite the minimum investment threshold having just risen from around US$271,000 to US$434,000 this year. EU country’s Latvia (with a minimum investment from roughly US$271,000) and Malta (from US$190,000) are also seeing more demand as both have real estate options and the latter offers citizenship. Another citizenship option, meanwhile, is Turkey (from US$400,000), which is also attracting interest from property investors.

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“Historically, the demand centers were Russia, China, The Philippines, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt and places where there was significant wealth creation by people running very successful businesses, but living in a country that had some level of political or economic uncertainty,” said Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners.

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While every country has its own set of problems, for Volek, golden visas are about diversifying risk—just as any savvy investor looks to build a portfolio with a broad range of assets and geographic spread. Originally from South Africa, Volek has a home base with his family in Dubai, but spends much of his time on long-haul flights between Henley’s global offices. “I’ve got a citizenship in Europe, I’ve got a Dubai golden visa, Singapore residency, and I have my South African passport—so if it all kicks off in one part of the world or another I have options. It’s all part of my doomsday scenario,” he said. 

Axios – The Trump migration is prompting the wealthy to move

Where it stands: “A lot of the movement that we’re now seeing of Americans moving to the U.K. would be people who who don’t want to live in Trump’s America,” says David Lesperance, a lawyer who deals with ultra high net worth families.

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“People who feel in danger tend to seek me out,” he says. That includes families who want to ensure uninterrupted medical care for their children.

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Between the lines: Many Americans who fear being targeted by Trump are urgently seeking other passports, Lesperance says. While it’s extraordinarily difficult for the U.S. government to strip an American of citizenship, it’s very easy for the Secretary of State to cancel a passport.

International Business Times – 6,100 Americans Applied for British Citizenship in 2024—And Donald Trump Could Too, Thanks to His Mum

The political climate under Trump’s administration has made life increasingly difficult for LGBTQ+ families. David Lesperance, a tax and immigration consultant, revealed that many of his clients are leaving the US due to fear and discrimination.

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‘I was retained by seven families with trans children in just nine days last month,’ Lesperance stated. ‘Maybe 15 to 20 percent of our clients are same-sex couples. The people who call me are the ones who feel like targets.’

The Telegraph – Britons race for golden visas as Spain’s Left-wing PM shuts scheme

Francisco Martínez, a partner at Next Abogados, the Madrid legal firm, said: “I have an American client who is not going to make it. 

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“He had a 10 per cent down payment on a newbuild apartment that cost around €800,000, but there has been a 12-month delay in building so he cannot complete the purchase in time,” Mr Martínez said.

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Macarena Ruiz Ballesteros, a lawyer at Ruiz Ballesteros Economistas y Abogados, said: “Our golden visa purchasers are not seeking to speculate with their properties.” 

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“Golden visa investors are a very specific group, and they cannot be blamed for generating inflation in the housing market as a whole,” said Mr Martínez.

Free Malaysia Today – Don’t spread false narratives about MM2H programme, Rais told

PETALING JAYA: The MM2H Consultants Association has hit out at former minister Rais Yatim over his remarks on the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, saying they could mislead the people about the initiative.

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The association’s president, Anthony Liew, said that MM2H participants do not obtain permanent residency under the programme.

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“Such remarks are irresponsible and could create misunderstandings, giving the programme a negative image,” he said.

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IQI group CEO Kashif Ansari said the majority of the 53,000 current MM2H pass holders are from China (24,765), followed by Australia (9,265), South Korea (4,940), Japan (4,733), Bangladesh (3,604), and the UK (2,234).

Forbes – The Most Accessible And Powerful Passports: Spain And Greece Top New Astons Ranking

According to the latest analysis from global investment migration firm Astons, “Spain, and Greece have some of the most powerful and accessible passports in the world, providing visa-free access to more foreign nations than those available to holders of U.K., U.S., Russian, or Chinese passports.”

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The potential closing of the Golden Visa scheme in Greece, according to Astons real estate investment expert Alena Lesina, means that “interested investors probably have less than a year left to secure Greek residency and access to the opportunities it offers.”

Money Control – Why Canada’s investor visa ranks among the top 5 globally

“Canada offers a stable and high-quality economy, with a favourable business environment and low corporate taxes, making it an attractive destination for investment. The country is renowned for its education system, healthcare, and high standard of living, which appeal to wealthy Indian families,” said Gaurav Nalawade, Country-Head India, RIF Trust.

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Rohit Bhardwaj, Country Head – India, Henley & Partners, said, “The Canada Federal Startup Visa Program is intended to help Canada develop a strong startup ecosystem by supporting foreign entrepreneurs who can build scalable businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the Canadian economy. Successful applicants receive a five-year permanent residence permit. A minimum stay requirement of 730 days is needed to renew this permit.”

Money Control – Why UAE’s golden visa is the top choice for global millionaires

According to Rohit Bhardwaj, Country Head India at Henley & Partners, “The UAE’s economic resilience, favourable tax policies, and world-class infrastructure, combined with its strategic location and political stability has made it an ideal destination for global wealth and investment at a time when the world is grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and social upheaval.”

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“Beyond financial benefits, Dubai, the commercial capital of the UAE, provides a world-class lifestyle – from high-end residential communities and luxury amenities to excellent healthcare and education. The city’s proximity to India makes travel seamless, and its status as a global business hub offers access to markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia,” said Gaurav Nalawade, Country Head-India, RIF Trust, a global residency and citizenship solutions provider.

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“There has been an uptick in interest in the Dubai residential market from the wealthy, including not just businessmen but also top professionals from the banking and financial services and even crypto millionaires,” said Morgan Owen, Managing Director – Middle East & North Africa, ANAROCK Group, an international property consultant.

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“Unlike India, where investors must account for capital gains tax, stamp duty, TDS (tax deducted at source) on rental income, annual property tax, and municipal levies, Dubai offers a far simpler tax system. Buyers in Dubai only pay a one-time 4 percent transfer fee when purchasing or selling property. Additionally, there is no capital gains tax or income tax on rental earnings, although property owners must pay a municipal tax to the Dubai Land Department,” said Rabiah Shaikh, Chief Business Officer & Principal Partner – Global Markets, Square Yards.

Business Standard – EB-5 visa backlog grows for Indians: What is retrogression and its impact?

“For investors eyeing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, this can mean an unexpected halt in their American dream,” Varun Singh, managing director, XIPHIAS Immigration told Business Standard.

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The backlog is reflected in the Visa Bulletin, where priority dates dictate who moves forward in the queue. “When retrogression hits, applicants with later priority dates must wait until new visa numbers become available in the next financial cycle,” Singh said.