How to choose the right investment migration advisor: Part 1

Choosing the right investment migration advisor can be the difference between a lifetime of global mobility and security, and years of growing uncertainty.

At Latitude Consultancy we understand that investing in a citizenship or residency programme can be a significant undertaking, often requiring a substantial monetary investment.

One way to reduce the stress this may cause is to make your application with the assistance of an experienced investment migration service provider. In this first of two articles Jon Green, our Director of Intermediary and B2B Sales, will help you find the right provider by revealing four out of the eight most important questions to ask a prospective service provider.

Question 1: Is your company associated with the Investment Migration Council (IMC)?

The IMC is the worldwide association for the investor immigration and citizenship-by-investment industry. The IMC sets the global standards and ethics and interacts with other professional associations, governments and international organisations in relation to investment migration.

It is important that all employees of the service provider are members of the IMC as they have a duty to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the organization.

Question 2: Is investment migration advisory your primary line of business?

Until recently there were only a handful of service providers whose business was solely to provide alternative residency and citizenship solutions. Many of the businesses advertising investment migration services only did so because it complimented other financial or investment services they offered their clients.

These providers still exist and can offer assistance, but it's important to remember that your citizenship or residency application isn't necessarily their main priority. In addition, they might not always have the expertise when it comes to the intricacies of the application process.

Providers like Latitude and our partners RIF Trust are dedicated investment migration consultancies. All our efforts and resources go into ensuring your application is compiled in the most complete and efficient manner, prior to submission for government approval.

Question 3: Are you an approved International Marketing Agent for the programme?

Each government offering Citizenship and Residency-by-Investment programmes appoints a number of service providers to market its offering to clients across the world. The approved providers are known as 'International Marketing Agents (IMA)'.

Determining whether a provider is an approved IMA is easy. Just ask to see their International Marketing Agent certification. Every approved agent is given an official certificate, and they should be able to produce a copy of it upon request. If there's any hesitation or delay from the provider, it's probably best to reassess your options.

Question 4: Do you provide Government Advisory services?

Government Advisory is an important service that all of the most influential investment migration consultancies provide. Consultancies who offer Government Advisory services often have a much better understanding of the intricacies of the application process, as they help to design the programmes in the first place.

Governments tend to put the design of their own citizenship and residency programmes in the hands of the most experienced and trustworthy companies. As such, it is always worth asking what level of Government Advisory services a consultancy has provided before you make a final decision.