2016 Canadian Start-Up Visa Investor Program

Inorder to attract new age entrepreneurs and businessmen to Canada, the Canadian government has come up with startup visa investor program which issues the eligible entrepreneurs/businessmen and investors with Canadian permanent residency status.

To qualify for the Canadian start up visa investor program, initially, you must make out a best investment plan and then you get to make an exploratory visit to the country to meet the potential businesses and avail the knowledge of their business operational process. Once you return to your home country and make the final decision, then your paperwork for the immigration procedure will be taken forward and your investment funds will be transferred into a secured Canadian account. After the funds are transferred and your family visa application is approved, you get to work within the business in Canada in which you have invested. Within six months, you and your family moves to Canada as permanent residents and enjoy all the benefits of a Canadian lifestyle.

Moreover, to qualify for the startup visa investor program, you must have the required qualifications, business background or managerial experience, language requirement, security and medical clearances etc. But still, the start-up investor visa program is the fastest immigration program in Canada which enables the investors and entrepreneurs to move to Canada with their family as permanent residents. Even if the project fails, the investors need to worry as their permanent residency status will continue.

It’s claimed that the start-up visa program is gaining popularity among the start-up companies in Canada. 

Things You Must Consider Before Beginning Your Business in Canada

Canada is a dynamic and prosperous country and is attracting many immigrants to immigrant. Many entrepreneurs are looking forward to expand or commence their own business in Canada. Before starting your business, you need to consider few key points. 

With dynamic and prosperous country like Canada, many people are coming forward to invest in Canadian business or expand their own business in Canada. According to Forbes and Bloomberg, Canada is among the best G-20 countries for commencing business.

Before commencing your business in Canada, you should take different options into consideration such as:

1)  Collect all necessary information regarding the different requirements and procedures            to be undertaken inorder to commence a business in Canada.

2)  You must calculate the different benefits and losses you might encounter while starting          your own business in Canada.

3)   When you decide to start your business, you undergone many research and critical                   thinking to develop innovative ideas which will work in the Canadian market as well as            earn you profit.

4)  Conduct market research with regards to your product or services, competitive analysis,        demand of customers etc. in the Canadian market.

5)  Accordingly, decide which form of business who would like to choose for your business          plan such as sole proprietorship, partnership etc.

A proper research work will enable you to start up your own business and also eliminate the chances of failure to great extent. 

Canada’s Real Estate Market in 2016

It might be blooming in Canada’s oil and gas sector but the real estate market in Canada seems unaffected. According to Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) prediction, the prices of house in Canada are expected to rise by 10% and this is one of the biggest factors that will be affecting the Canada’s real estate market in 2016 as well.

TREB claims that the condition of real estate market in 2016 should be considered by many of the investors who are thinking about making an investment into Canada’s real estate market. Currently, the oil prices are at its low and many of the workers have been laid off as the Canadian oil and gas production companies are witnessing a downhill slide. But still the energy and real estate sector in Canada is in good shape. Though the real estate market in British Columbia is soaring following the rising prices in Vancouver. Even people living in Vancouver are moving out of the city following the rising real estate cost. Accordingly, it has become more affordable for new home buyers as the mortgage rates are increasing. As long as the real estate market is high, demand for rental homes across the country will also remain high. Those who own a house in Canada seems to welcome more of foreign investment as their property is valued high.

As a sigh of relief for the people, the federal government in Canada has increased the minimum insurable down payment required to mortgage a home over $500,000. Currently, we can see that even the wealthy people are also making investment in the real estate sector. A recent provincial budget included a property transfer tax exemption for new home buyers for the homes that are priced upto $750,000. Tax exemption will come as an advantage to certain provinces where the demand for housing is much low and also for the home builders.

Basically, the prediction for the Canadian real estate market in 2016 comes as boost for investors who are looking to make a real estate investment.

More Investment Opportunities in Canada’s Agricultural Industry

Canada is a land of opportunity for all. With Prince Edward Island signing a MOU with Canadian Nectar Products (CNP) and agricultural industry in Canada relishing a financial boost, more foreign investors are lured to settle in Canada and join the farming business. 

 

Today farmers are the biggest businessperson as well as the marketing agents. Such skills are majorly required in the current Canadian agricultural industry. It is expected that by 2022, approximately 73,000 jobs will be created in the agricultural, horticultural and aquaculture industries in Canada. 

With Prince Edward Island signing a MOU with Canadian Nectar Products (CNP), more foreign investors are lured to settle in Canada and join the farming business. The leading industries in Prince Edward Island are agriculture along with fisheries, aerospace, biosciences, marine technology etc. Also Prince Edward Island is also known as the food island of Canada. Canada is a land of opportunity for all. Moreover, the pulse industry in Canada is relishing a financial boost. With crop prices rising high, more number of farmers is opting to grow more pulses hoping the demand for pulses to grow. The Prince Edward Island is also the leading province among the other Canadian provinces for growth in export, manufacturing, income and economy. 

With the agricultural industry in Canada growing exponentially, more and more farmers are indulging into the growing more agriculture. Canada is a big exporter of pulses to countries such as China, Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh and even India. The GDP of Prince Edward Island is 80% more than the average of Canada but approximately 20% of GDP comes from export whereas Saskatchewan is a huge exporter of peas, lentils and chickpeas. In 2015, Saskatchewan exported around $2.5 billion worth of lentils. 

Canada is one of the world’s largest agriculture producers as well as exporters. Canada’s self-employed persons program enables applicant with relevant agricultural experience to move to Canada. Applicant interested in purchasing a farm or joining a farming business, should have atleast two years’ experience in the profession along with being assessed based on education, experience, age, language ability etc.

Possible Changes in the EB-5 Immigrant investor program

EB-5 investment program is considered to be the fastest immigration option for the investors and their family including unmarried children below 21 years of age to secure a USA Green Card with the initial investment of $500,000. US Senators has tabled a bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee demanding amendments in the EB-5 investment program. As of now, the bill haven’t been approved by the Senators, so applicants who are interested can pick this opportunity to invest in the program and secure a conditional green card for him/her as well as their family.

Following the bill being tabled in the senate, there is a possibility of changes in the investment program requirements such as the investment amount, employment area definitions, job creation requirement, source of funds, etc. The new investment amount however hasn’t been announced yet but there are speculations that:

•  Investment amount might be increased to $800,000 instead of $500,000 for targeted employment area whereas $1.2 million instead of $1 million for non-targeted employment area.
• It is also possible that the EB-5 program which provides a conditional permanent resident is likely to be changed to permanent inorder to avoid renewals.
• It might be made mandatory for investors to provide seven years of tax returns.
• Funds gifted by the applicants spouse, parents, child, sibling or grandparents can be taken into account.
• Concurrent filing period for I-526 and I-829 is likely to be reduced to 150 days and 180 days respectively.
• Job creation requirements likely to be changed as it was required to create 10 full time indirect or direct jobs but now it might be changed to 10 full time direct jobs.

All the above changes have not been finalized yet so before the amendments are made, consider choosing EB-5 investor program and in return for investment and creation of jobs in the USA, you and your spouse along with unmarried children below 21 years of age will become eligible to apply for the USA Green Card.

Manitoba Business Immigration Program

Manitoba is also opening its own business immigration program wherein the entrepreneurs and investors can make an investment and gain permanent resident status.

Manitoba has two business immigration programs:   

1.  Manitoba Entrepreneur Program 
2.  Manitoba Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative

Unlike other provinces, Manitoba signs a deposit agreement for the investment amount of $100,000 CAD and issues a nomination certificate to the applicant upon approval. The minimum net worth required for both the business immigration program is $350,000 CAD and the applicant needs to provide the documents related to the source of the income. Moreover, the minimum investment amount for the Manitoba business program is $150,000 CAD along with $100,000 CAD which the applicant needs to provide as a security deposit amount. If the applicant isn’t successful in fulfilling the requirements of the Manitoba business program then the applicant is bound to lose the deposit amount.

Whereas for the Manitoba Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative, the applicant needs to make the minimum investment of $75,000 CAD which will be transferred to the Manitoba Development Corporation after the nomination certificate is issued prior to applying for the permanent resident status. Apart from the investment amount, the applicant is termed to manage and run the business just like any other business immigration program.

Once the applicant receives the nomination certificate, he/she will have to make an investment of $100,000 CAD as deposit amount which will be refunded once the terms and conditions of the deposit amount is met by the applicant and if at all prior to filing for permanent resident status, the applicant feels to withdraw his/her application then also the deposit amount will be refunded.

The business immigration program offered by the Manitoba province is considered to be more realistic if at all the applicant couldn’t fulfill the terms of deposit amount still his/her permanent resident status will be remain unharmed. Following all this regulations, many people choose to immigrate to Canada through the Manitoba business immigration program eventhough they lose their deposit amount. 

Better Opportunity for Indian Companies to invest in Canada

The decrease in crude oil prices and reduction in investment into the energy sector in Canada comes as a perfect time for many of the Indian companies to make an investment.

Canada is also keen in welcoming more Indian students interested in seeking higher education as the working population in Canada is nearing their retirement stage and the country needs to enter new force in the job market. So, India can expect cooperation from the Canada in the education sector as well. Moreover, focusing on the hydrocarbon sector, the private and public sector companies in India have huge opportunities as the energy prices are also extremely low in Canada. Looking at all the huge opportunities available to private and public sector companies, it’s the right time for Indian companies to make the investment into the Canadian oil sector. Once our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Canada has agreed for a long term supply of uranium to India inorder to promote the Canada-India ties and so Indian companies should grab the opportunities.

Mr. Modi also said that Canada has the capacity to attract more number of Indian students and are eager to welcome more students and want them to stay back even after the completion of their programs because Canada is one such country with reducing working population. The one with high education and industrial experience are among the largest immigrant in Canada.   

CIF Chief Someshwar said that inorder to attract more Indian students as well as investors the Canadian government has ensured to ease the visa processing. Ultimately, the investors along with the family reside in Canada whereas for Indian students, Canadian government allows them to stay back in Canada for limited period of time to get a job offer and issue a work permit. 

Different options related to Investment Visa for USA

Many Indian investors, businessmen or entrepreneurs are looking to have access into the US market and so USA has come forward with different business immigration programs. But for very few visas only the Indian entrepreneurs and businessmen are eligible:

B1 visa – applicant who wishes to conduct a due diligence, business meetings, meeting potential employees etc. in the USA then they can opt for the B1 visa. B1 visa holders can’t manage or operate their business in the USA and if they wish to they need to change their status into E-2, E-1, L-1 or EB-5 Status.

L-1 visa – if you own a well-established business in India and willing to expand it in the USA then L-1 visa is suitable which enables the applicant to open a business in the USA. After one year of securing a L-1 visa the applicant can apply for a green card.

EB-5 visa – under the EB-5 visa, the applicant needs to make a minimum investment of $500,000 and which enables the applicant with the spouse and children below 21 years to migrate to USA securing a conditional green card for two years. This business visa program also requires the applicant to create 10 new jobs in the USA during the stay as conditional green card holder. As per the EB-5 visa, the applicant can live, work, study and retire anywhere in the USA and also enjoy all the merits of an USA citizen. After 5 years, the applicant secures a USA citizenship.

Whether you are expanding or establishing a business in the USA or making an investment you need to have a perfect business plan. The choice of which visa is suitable need to be taken based on the type of business, industrial sector, investment plans and long term goals.

USA Investment Visa-Key Requirements and its Benefits

In general, the applicant needs to meet the investment and job creation requirements along with ensuring that the business also qualifies for the EB-5 visa program. The qualifying investor will get the privilege to immigrate with the spouse along with children below 21 years to the USA as conditional green card holders and will secure a permanent green card once the requirements are fulfilled.

EB-5 USA visa is an employment based program wherein the applicant needs to make an investment of minimum $500,000 and create employment for atleast 10 full time USA jobs.

The basic requirements of EB-5 visa are:

• Have net worth of $1 million.
• Make minimum investment of $500,000.
• Make investment into a commercial enterprise established on or after November 29, 1990.
• All the investment funds must be derived through lawful means.
• Provide $60,000 as other expenses such as administrative fee, attorney fee and application fee.
• Create atleast 10 direct or indirect jobs within two years.
• Within 90 days of getting the conditional permanent residence expire, the applicant needs to provide with proper documentation that the 10 new jobs have been created or will be created within the specified time period.

Benefits of EB-5 visa are:

• Permanent residency status for the whole family including unmarried children below 21 years of age.
• Obtain conditional green card within 16-18 months.
• Obtain permanent green card within 4 years.
• Live anywhere in the USA.
• Take up any job or start any business.
• No language requirements.
• Enjoy the privilege of USA citizen such as free public school education, Medicare for 5 years, etc.
• Citizenship after 5 years.
• No need to renew and re-qualify visa status for EB5 Visa permanent residents.

For those who wish to live, work and retire in the anywhere in the USA and those who can afford to make an investment of minimum $500,000, EB-5 USA immigration program is worth considering. 

How to Start a Business or make Investment in Canada

Before starting a new business, you need to do lots of research work, develop an innovative idea, craft the business plan, name and register your business, find financial support etc. whereas buying a franchisee or investing into a business needs a bit of research work, with very little finance and risk. The only thing that depends on is whether you are investing into or buying a right franchisee.

It’s always affordable to invest or buy a franchise instead of starting from scratch to start up a new business in Canada.

Find a business which is up for sale. Ensure whether the business opportunity is genuine or not because it might happen to be misleading. It’s always recommendable to do your due diligence ahead of taking a final decision.

Identify which business sector is suitable for you whether a franchise or independent business which depends as per the amount of funds available with you.

If it’s a franchise business, ensure its track record up till now. By owning a franchise, you get to run the business with less control over the operations part compared to having an independent business. Moreover, you will be required to pay a portion of revenue earnings to the parent company as well.

If you intend to own an independent business, then you get to control the business operations along with the whole responsibility of running the business. Moreover, you won’t be sharing the revenue earnings with anyone.

Before taking a final decision, evaluate the business venture you are planning to buy or invest in. While evaluating the business, keep few things in criteria like the location/space, whether it’s dealing in online business, target market, products/services etc.

As a buyer, now it’s time to think about the finance. You need to evaluate whether you can afford to buy the business and how you can negotiate with the owners. You need to determine the value of the business based on its assets, building, location etc.

Before getting into a contract, you can seek for review by talking to any of the clients or banks who are dealing with the same business.

Take your time and evaluate all the information provided to you, its reputation, return on investment, talk with the suppliers, clients etc.

You can also seek for expert advice or take the help of some accredited professional consultants in evaluating and clarifying your doubts ahead of making a final call on the business deal.

Take your Business to New horizons with Canada Business Visa

If you are an established businessmen and thinking about taking your business to a new horizons then Canada business visa will help you to chase your dream of launching your business in Canadian land.

The objective of Canada business immigration program is to enable the immigrant to move to Canada along with their family as permanent residents. By attracting businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs it will contribute to the economic growth of Canada.

If you own a business out in your home country and wish to expand it in Canada then Start up visa program is suitable for you. Initially, check whether your product/service is suitable for the Canadian market or not and all this needs some homework and market research.

• If your product/service is successful in your home country, then expanding your business in Canada has great potential in it. To make it a start, you need to have a business plan for Canada. The business plan should answer why you are selling your product/service in Canada, to whom you are selling, how will you promote your product/service, how to manage a workforce etc.
• Conduct market research – golden rule of establishing or expanding any business. You should know about the Canadian market for the easy transition of your business into Canadian market. Based on the research, identify and analyze the competitors, target market, distribution channels, location, market opportunities, risk factor, etc.
• Know about your rival companies in Canada. You should analyze which brands are offered by your competitors, what are their strategies, how do they price their products/services, etc.
• Analyze the consumer market in Canada. Identify who are your customers; what are their needs and requirements, what all things influences the customer behavior etc. Analyze the patterns and habits of Canadian customers.
• Based on the market research, analyze the scope of your product/service in the Canadian market. Identify the profitability and marketability of your product/service.
• Check whether hiring new employees from Canada or moving with the existing employees to Canada is favorable for you.  

Still if you don’t feel confident enough, then you can get in touch with some professional business consultants who will help you out in your international business planning.  

How to Initiate the Process for Business visa/Investment visa Program?

" It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen."

If you have an idea and consider yourself as an entrepreneur then go for Canada business visa/investment visa program wherein you get the opportunity to invest into the Canadian economy and immigrate to Canada as permanent resident along with your family. Depending on the amount of funds available with you, you have wide range of options available to invest into a business in Canada such as investor immigration, entrepreneur immigration, self-employed immigration, etc.

But before starting up a new business or making an investment into a business, firstly you need research and understand about the various business trends and scenario of the vast Canadian market. You need to acquire all the relevant information regarding the Canadian market including its legal procedures, registration process, minimum funds required, etc. Ensure whether your business plan will work out in the Canadian market or not.     

Initially, identify and finalize a business sector in which you would like to invest in or own a business and ensure its profitability as well. If you are making an investment into a Canadian business, then you will get the opportunity to collect all the relevant information such as business operations/processes, profitability, target market, due diligence etc. from the business owners in Canada.

Once you make up a final decision, your paper work to make the investment or starting up a business in Canada will be initiated followed by which the funds will be transferred into a Canadian bank account and the process of your and your family’s visa application will be carried out which will enable you and your family to travel to Canada as permanent residents. 

Why Canada is an Ideal Business & Investment Destination

When a country has so much to offer to its people, then it’s very much clear that Canada is an ideal destination to live in. Canada is renowned for its multiple advantages wherein businesses can also achieve excellence in its global economy.

Canada with its robust economy, abundant resources and strong business fundamentals, tops the list of destinations for business and investment. Canada also offers leading edge research facilities and also supports innovation through its various R&D programs. Moreover, the highly educated and multicultural workforce in Canada is ideally suited for the current technological based market. Canada is known for its high quality education system with more than hundreds of universities and colleges to study in.

The key factors in Canada’s economic performance are its low business operating costs and corporate income tax. The Business operating costs levied in Canada is the second lowest among all the G7 countries. Another factor which makes Canada as an ideal destination for business and investment is its high quality of life including its vibrant cities/provinces, security, multicultural and bilingual characteristics. With its NAFTA trade option, Canada offers access to North American and overseas markets without any duty. 

Canada’s global economic strength is also supported by its financial and banking system.

Apart from stable, strong and diversified economy, Canada is also enriched with world class health care system, clean environment and spectacular nature’s view. Canada is also known for its lowest number of process required for the business program compared to other G7 countries.