Latest / IMI Podcasts / This Week in IM - Feb 13: 🇭🇰 CIES Accepts Crypto, 🇳🇿 Eases Investor Rules, 🇮🇹 to Vote on Citizenship Req’s, ++

Transcript

This Week in IM - Feb 13: 🇭🇰 CIES Accepts Crypto, 🇳🇿 Eases Investor Rules, 🇮🇹 to Vote on Citizenship Req’s, ++ · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to IMI This Week.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Investment migration people in the news this week included Bettino Zanini of FIO Legal, Varun Singh of Ziphias, Marcus Beveridge of Queen City Law, Willie Sussman of Belle Gully, Nick Mason of Mason McMellan, David Cooper of Malcolm Pacific Immigration, Min Lee of AOYE Immigration Services, Jo bin Roheet Bardwaj, of Henley and Partners, Vishall Dawan of Plan Ahead, Wealth Advisors, David Lesperance of Lesperance, and Associates Marco Messina, of Move to Dolce Vita.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: The IMF study on citizenship and residency by investment programs analyzes their economic impact from 1980 to 2022 using industry and institutional data.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Despite its comprehensive approach, the study faces limitations from missing data and struggles to establish causation between RCBI programs and economic outcomes.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: As government officials admit, previous rules were an absolute nightmare.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: New Zealand plans to simplify its Active Investor Plus visa program.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: The reforms will eliminate English language requirements and allow investments in commercial property and development projects for the first time.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: Residence requirements will vary, with$5 million investors needing 21 days annually and$10 million investors requiring 105 days.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Italy's Constitutional Court approved a referendum to reduce naturalization residency requirements for non-EU citizens from 10 to 5 years.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: The vote, scheduled between April and June 2025, could benefit 2.5 million foreign residents if approved.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Italy's most consequential citizenship reform in decades, notes Marco Messina, the referendum would align naturalization policies with other European countries like Spain and Portugal.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: After two Chinese investors proved US$3.8 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum to qualify, Hong Kong confirmed the capital investment entrance scheme now accepts cryptocurrency holdings as proof of wealth.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: The policy requires crypto storage in cold wallets or major exchanges.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Applicants must convert their crypto holdings into qualifying investments like securities or real estate within six months.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union has appointed Lydia Elliott to draft legislation for a regional citizenship by investment regulator, one of the six principles outlined in last year's regional MOA.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: The regulator will establish common standards and strengthen transparency across Caribbean citizenship programs, though David Lesperance warns against potential cartel pricing controls.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: A major lawsuit between IISA and the Department of Homeland Security challenges USCIS guidance on EB5 investment sustainment periods.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: The dispute centers on whether investors must maintain capital beyond two years, with$21 billion potentially affected by redeployment rules.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: The case has divided the industry, notes Mona Shaw, between regional centers supporting IISA and investor advocates.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today on IMI podcasts.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI Daily Newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: And consider upgrading your membership to IMI Pro to get access to our exclusive professional community, industry events, data, and members only content.