Investment in New Zealand is a popular choice, but the correct procedure must be followed.  If you want to fill the category of Business Investor the minimum amount of finance required is one million New Zealand Dollars. This is roughly five to six hundred thousand US dollars.  This amount of money has to be invested in the country of New Zealand for a minimum of two years.  There are investment services that are experts in this field.  To become a Business Investor you cannot be above the age of eighty four.  IELTS – band number five is a level of English that must be held by the main investor.

It is possible to get a ‘Temporary Entry’ if you want to set up a venture in New Zealand.  You will be given a ‘Multiple Entry Business Visa’, valid for nine months.  But if the business is up and running you can apply to have the investment visa lengthened to three years.  However, there must be evidence that the business is running.  In certain situations the business visa could be lengthened to six years.  If you have a Long Term Business Visa you can ask for residency after the first two years.  This application will fall under the Entrepreneur category.

In order to get a Long Term Business Visa you will have to prove you have enough money to buy and set up a venture.  You must also be able to take care of your family if you have one.  You have to have enough funds to cover this for three years.  You must have one hundred thousand New Zealand Dollars for your personal upkeep.

There are many types of visas for which you can apply.  One of the little known types is the Investor Visa.  The Investor Visa is a visa that is provided by the United States for an individual that makes a qualifying investment. The Investor Visa is a programme that was established in 1990.  The Investor Visa has two programmes – one with a requirement of a one million-dollar investment and one with a half-million investment price as well as providing ten new work positions of employment in the US for either programme.  This can be through establishment of a new business or by purchasing and expanding a current one. The Investor Visa process is very strictly regimented by the USCIS (”US Citizenship and Immigration Services”). 

The Investor Visa not only ensures employment for the person who is submitting for the visa but at the same time allows for additional employment opportunities for others.  This creation of jobs is a boost to the economy.  Getting an Investor Visa provides permanent residency for the applicant and immediate family. There are 10,000 available Investors’ Visas per year.  To apply for an Investor Visa you must petition by filing a form called “Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur”.  You will also need to submit the necessary supporting documentation to show your business as well as financial summary and assets.  The application for an investor Visa is reviewed by the USCIS.  Each application for an Investor Visa is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Anyone interested in applying for an Investor Visa should review the information online.

The American Investor Visa was created from the treaties between the United States and other countries that provide reciprocal benefits to the nationals of each country who wish to invest in the other country.

The E2 Investor Visa is available to any applicant who invests a large amount of their own money into a U.S. business that he can then control and manage. It can be used to facilitate the start of a business or to finance an existing enterprise.

The American Investor Visa is based on an agreement between the United States and the applicant’s homeland to advance trade. The investor visa can also be based upon an existing treaty. For a successful E2 investor visa, the applicant must show some necessary information.

For the employees that have the same nationality as that of the company, an E2 Investor Visa is available for them. They must be executives, managers or highly-trained and specialised and essential employees.

The longevity of the visa differs from one country to another, and is renewable upon submission of continuing qualification.

Through U.S. consulates abroad, it is possible and common apply for an E2 Visa. The applicant files an application at a consular post in their homeland together with the supporting documents that are to satisfy the requirements. These requirements relate to the nationality and ownership of the investment as well as the enterprise, investment, marginality, and control, or economic, benefit to others besides the investor.

This whole process takes about four to six weeks. During this time, the consular officer reviews the whole application and makes the decision. After the consular officer reviews it, they may approve or deny the application, or they may ask for additional evidence, concerning the qualifications, whereby, if later approved, the visa is issued at that consulate.

New Zealand is introducing a new investor immigration policy to replace what they had been implementing over the past few years. In November 2007, the country replaced the previous investor immigration scheme with the “Active Investor Migrant Policy.”

The Active Investor Migrant policy will be categorized into three groups. Each category will have varying requirements depending on the description of each. The three groups are as follows: General (Active) investors, Professional investors, and the Global investors. Below are the requirements for each of the category.

For the General or Active Investors category, the main applicant must have a score of 5 in two out of four bands in the IELTS. This must also apply for the family members of the applicant. If their English ability does not pass the standards of this policy, then they will have to pre-purchase English course tuition. Age also matters for this category and the applicant must be 54 years of age or younger. The investor must have NZD $2.5 million. They must be able to pay settlement funds of NZD $1 million.

For the Professional Investor category, one must score at least 4 in two out of four bands of the IELTS. Same goes for the family members of the applicant. The age must be 64 years of age or younger. Investment funds must total NZD$10 million. There is an active investment of NZD $2 million needed but no settlement funds is required.

As for the global investor category, only the investment funds of NZD$20 million is required as well as a NZD$5 million active investment. All categories are required to have a minimum of 4 years business experience. At the same time, all must present medical and security clearance.