JTH Lawyers, a specialised immigration services firm, has offered to assist Nigerians willing to acquire foreign citizenship through an array of immigration programmes within its expertise.
Three of such programmes, tailored for high net worth individuals (HNWI) are Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme (Canada Permanent Residency), US EB5 (US Employment-based Programme)and Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship are currently available.
Top officials of JTH Lawyers, who are in the country, hosted desirous high net worth individuals to an eye-opening session on the offerings at the weekend in Lagos. They were led by its President, Julien Terault, in company of his partner, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor.
The company offering full range of services to HNWI, seeking to acquire foreign nationality for themselves and their family, took time to lead enthusiastic investors through the nitty-gritty of the programmes.
Tetrault, while addressing the gathering, which included chief executive officers of leading firms and top-notch businessmen, explained that the Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme, created in 1986, leads to permanent residency in Canada.
He said individuals with over CA$1,600,000 net worth could qualify provided they hold management positions. The programme, which , is about to reopen on August 31, 2015 with limited number of applications, according to him, will remain open till the January 31, 2016. He, however, added that it could be suspended earlier if maximum quota is met .
Tetrault pointed out that to qualify for this category, an investment of CA$800,000 is required and it could be financed by a Canadian financial institution.
Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor
Reeling out the benefits attached to this programme, he noted that the children of a qualified investor will “enjoy great education system with 100-90 per cent rebate compared to international students, excellent free health care system, quality of life, business opportunities, and unconditional permanent residence leading to Canadian citizenship.”
Besides, Tetrault stated that the US EB5, which has been operational since 1992 is an employment-based programme that leads to permanent residency (green cards) to United State of America.
He explained that currently, an investment of US$500,000 in the US is required to qualify for the permanent residency but added that the amount would be raised to US$800,000 after September 30, 2015.
According to him, “we currently see a peak of applications as the required investment is scheduled to increase from 500,000USD to 800,000USD for files submitted after September 30, 2015. Process is fast and straightforward. The required investment must create minimum 10 jobs per investor.”
The benefits, he pointed out, include “possibility to live, work, study in USA, settle anywhere in the country, and the pathway to USA citizenship.”
For the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship, Tetrault, a Québec lawyer and former President of the Immigrant Investor section of Québec Lawyers Abroad, said the programme leads directly to Citizenship through purchase of real estate for a minimum amount of US$400,000.
According to him, “with over 130 visa free countries, this Commonwealth passport is a privileged option for people looking for passports make their travels less cumbersome and making income from foreign real estate investment.”
He noted that a qualified individual will be issued the country’s passport in three to four months and enjoy visa-free travel to more than 130 countries including Canada, UK, Schengen region, Hong Kong, Singapore and many more as well as opened to opportunities to have reduction in taxation .
Tetrault warned the chief executives present at the occasion and other foreign citizenship seekers to “be careful of cheap scams, as very few specialised immigration lawyers have experience in assisting in these complex and important immigration processes.”
In his last word, Tetrault, noted: “With the Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme about to reopen for limited time at end of the month, with the US EB5 expected to increase the investment requirement significantly at end of September, and with current exciting investment options in Antigua leading to fast track passports, time is of essence for any person considering immigration by investment. We invite high net worth individuals seeking for immigration flexibility to contact us with no further delay as time is of essence.”