What are the popular countries for overseas investment immigration? What are the common scams? How to avoid them?

Against the backdrop of globalization, overseas investment immigration has become a choice for many individuals and families seeking higher quality of life and business opportunities. Investment immigration is not only about finding a new place to live, but also a way to obtain residency or even citizenship through financial investment. Several countries are considered popular destinations due to their attractive policies and programs. At the same time, with the popularity of investment immigration, some common scams have also emerged. It is crucial to understand these scams and take appropriate preventive measures.

Popular investment immigration countries

US EB-5 Program

• Investors need to invest at least $800,000 in US companies.
• At least 10 full-time jobs must be created.
• Successful investment can ultimately lead to permanent residency (green card).

European Golden Visa (Portugal and Greece)

• Lower residency requirements usually do not require investors to reside throughout the year.
• The investment amount usually involves the real estate market, with Portugal around 350,000 euros and Greece around 250,000 euros.
• After investing, you can obtain residency, and after a few years, you may apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

Canada and Australia

• Value investors’ business background and potential contribution to the local economy.
• The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) offered by each province in Canada allows investors to make business investments in specific provinces, but the investment threshold is high and usually requires investors to have a strong financial background.
• Australia offers a variety of investment immigration options, covering entrepreneurship, innovation, and high-value investment, to meet the needs of different investors.

Asia (Singapore and MY)

• Singapore has strict eligibility requirements for high net worth investors and values the sustainability of business plans and investments.
• MY’s “Second Home Plan” is relatively lenient, requiring a certain amount of money to be deposited in a local bank or to purchase a property.

Common immigration investment scams

When making specific immigration investments, the risk of fraud and improper behavior is relatively high due to the involvement of large amounts of funds and complex legal procedures. Investors need to be vigilant against the following common scams:

Investment remittance fraud

• Investment remittance fraud refers to a scam in which criminals use high-return or low-risk investment projects as bait to deceive victims into transferring funds to overseas accounts. Once the victim transfers the funds, the scammer disappears and the victim will not be able to recover the funds. Common scams include false real estate investments, stock investments, or digital currency investments.

Illicit intermediaries and advisers

• Some intermediaries or consultants may not be certified or authorized, and they provide false service promises to induce investors to pay high fees, especially to be vigilant about high-return project recommendations.

Misleading information

• Investors may receive exaggerated or false information about investment returns and program speed, all to attract them to make investment decisions as soon as possible.

False investment projects

• Some so-called “investment projects” actually do not exist, or the authenticity and profitability of the projects have been greatly exaggerated.

Strategies to avoid investment immigration scams

Monitor remittance channels

• Choose reputable banks and legitimate financial institutions to ensure that all transactions have detailed records and legal channels. When making investment remittances, you can use BiyaPay. Its digital currency exchange service is more convenient, and remittances are completed online. It supports full-process on-chain tracking, low transaction fees, and can achieve instant payment, providing efficient services.

Thorough background check

• Before investing or transferring money, thoroughly investigate the intermediary agency, project, and related legal documents to ensure that all operations comply with formal procedures and legal requirements.

Consult professional legal advisors

• Work with a professional immigration lawyer to ensure that all documents and procedures comply with legal requirements and obtain a professional second opinion.

Choose reputable intermediaries and consultants

• Only work with intermediaries and consultants who have a clear professional record, positive client reviews, and are certified by the appropriate regulatory agency.

Summary

The above are some popular countries that support overseas immigration investment. Those who are interested can go to the official platform according to their own situation to learn about the specific requirements of the relevant projects. In addition, there are some common scams that are inevitable when investing in immigration. Everyone must be vigilant, effectively avoid potential scams, and ensure the safety of their investment.