The Canadian government has extended the suspension of applications from immigrant investors until April 1, 2021, reports the local press on Wednesday.
The decision is not directly related to the coronavirus crisis. The program, known as PIIQ, has been suspended since last fall. The government wants to review the system, according to local media.
Aimed at wealthy foreign nationals, this program makes it possible to obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). According to the Canadian media, it is a fast track to permanent immigration to the country.
To be eligible, a candidate must have a net worth of at least $2 million obtained legally, as stated on the site of the Ministry of Immigration. Usually 1,900 places are granted each year,” says Radio Canada.
The majority of applicants are from China. Far behind are candidates from Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates, according to the same source.
To justify the first suspension, Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said he was concerned about the many problems raised recently in some reports.
In September 2018, an Enquête report also lifted the veil on these ghost immigrants, who rarely set foot in Quebec. These candidates would have used the program primarily to enter the country and make financial investments.
