{"id":53555,"date":"2017-06-11T16:41:42","date_gmt":"2017-06-11T16:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.investmentimmigration.com\/?p=9369"},"modified":"2019-02-12T14:00:56","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T19:00:56","slug":"antigua-barbuda-investment-program-needs-complete-overhaul-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmentimmigration.com\/antigua-barbuda-investment-program-needs-complete-overhaul-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigua & Barbuda Investment Program \u2018Needs Complete Overhaul\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Politicians in Antigua & Barbuda are calling for a complete overhaul of the country\u2019s citizenship-by-investment program following Canada\u2019s move to impose a visa restriction.
\n\"Antigua
\nThe leader of the Caribbean country\u2019s Democratic National Alliance (DNA) says Canada\u2019s decision was a direct result of outside suspicions on how the CIP is operated.
\nHistorically the programs have been viewed as a way for people to hide money, but many of the countries in the region have taken steps to clean up their acts.
\nNow DNA leader Joanne Massiah says Antigua & Barbuda is sacrificing the reputation of the country to try and get as much investment as it can from the CIP.
\nThe\u00a0Antigua and Barbuda Investor Citizenship Program<\/a> grants citizenship in return for an investment as low as US$200,000.<\/p>\n

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Antigua & Barbuda Investor Citizenship: Investment Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
National Development Fund<\/td>\nOne-time investment of US $200,000.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Real Estate<\/td>\nUS $400,000 in real estate property in Antigua & Barbuda. In case of joint investment, each applicant must contribute a minimum amount of $400,000. The real estate must be held for a period of at least five years.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Business<\/td>\n$1,500,000 in an approved business. In case of a joint investment application, the total investment must be for a sum of not less than $5 million with each applicant contributing at least $400,000.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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The program is one of the cheapest in the region, and effectively meant people could buy their way to visa-free travel into Canada.
\nOttawa announced on Monday, June 26, 2017 that all citizens of the Caribbean nation would require a visa as of 5.30am on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Any previously granted\u00a0Electronic Travel Authorization<\/a>\u00a0(eTA) is defunct as of this time.
\n\u201cAfter carefully monitoring the integrity of Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s travel documents, the government of Canada has determined that Antigua and Barbuda no longer meets Canada\u2019s criteria for a visa exemption,\u201d a Canadian government statement said.
\nThe statement added that Canada needed to protect \u201cthe integrity of our immigration system and ensuring the safety of Canadians\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Read More<\/strong>
\nCanada Imposes Visa Restriction on Antigua and Barbuda Citizens<\/a>
\nAntigua & Barbuda Takes Citizenship-by-Investment Earnings Hit<\/a>
\nAntigua & Barbuda: Raises Cost of Citizenship<\/a><\/p>\n

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A similar move was made to impose a visa restriction on travellers from St. Kitts and Nevis by the previous Conservative government in 2014.
\nAccording to sources, authorities had evidence of people linked to terrorist organizations and criminal gangs buying St. Kitts passports to enter Canada without immigration screening.
\nSince then, St. Kitts has overhauled its investor residence program, although Canada is yet to lift the visa requirement.<\/p>\n

Information for Travellers: Canadian Government Statement<\/h3>\n

For travellers in transit<\/h4>\n

During the\u00a0first 48 hours\u00a0after the imposition, or until\u00a05.29am June\u00a029, the government of Canada will be working closely with airlines to help facilitate travel for those who are already in transit to Canada.
\nFor travellers in Antigua and Barbuda with confirmed flights to Canada during the next two weeks
\nTo help speed up visa processing, citizens who are in Antigua and Barbuda and who have already booked a flight to Canada,\u00a0departing on or before July\u00a011, can send their complete visa application, along with proof\u00a0that they purchased their flight before June\u00a027, the appropriate fees and supporting documents, directly to the\u00a0Visa Office in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, for priority processing. If they go in person before noon, their application will be processed that day. If they send via courier, their application will be processed within 24\u00a0hours.
\nNote that while these applicants will receive priority processing, they are not guaranteed a visa by their travel date and may need to make alternative travel arrangements.
\nFor all other travellers, including those outside of Antigua and Barbuda and those with flights leaving after July\u00a011, 2017
\nAntiguan and Barbudan citizens can\u00a0apply online\u00a0for a visa as of 5.30am June\u00a027, or\u00a0submit a paper application\u00a0in person or by mail to any visa application centre. The\u00a0visa application centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is the closest to Antigua and Barbuda.
\nMost applications (80 per cent) are processed within 14\u00a0days.
\nNote: Having pre-booked travel plans or a previously valid eTA does not guarantee that a traveller will be issued a visa.<\/p>\n

Dual citizens<\/h4>\n

Dual Canadian-Antiguan and Barbudan citizens need\u00a0a valid Canadian passport\u00a0to travel to Canada. A valid Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel document that provides proof of a traveller\u2019s Canadian citizenship and that they have the right to enter Canada without being subjected to immigration screening.
\nAntiguan and Barbudan dual citizens whose second citizenship is from a\u00a0visa-exempt country, other than Canada or the United States, can\u00a0apply for an eTA\u00a0to fly to Canada using the passport of the visa-exempt country.<\/p>\n

Lawful permanent residents of the United States (Green Card holders)<\/h3>\n

All lawful permanent residents of the U.S.\u00a0need an eTA\u00a0to fly to, or transit through a Canadian airport.
\nAntiguan and Barbudan citizens who have a valid Green Card will need to apply for an eTA.\u00a0This includes those who held an eTA before the visa imposition, since all eTAs issued to Antiguan and Barbudan citizens will no longer be valid.
\nWhen flying to Canada, these travellers must travel with their U.S. Green Card and the valid passport that they used to apply for their eTA. When driving or arriving by train, bus or boat, Green Card holders do not need a visa or an eTA, but they will need to bring proof of their permanent residence.<\/p>\n

Visitors, students and temporary workers inside Canada<\/h3>\n

Antiguan and Barbudan citizens can continue to stay in Canada for as long as they are authorized to do so. Study and work permits, as well as visitor records, remain valid.<\/p>\n

Further reading<\/b><\/p>\n