How To Navigate Immigration for Entrepreneurs: Vital Steps

Moving to another country can be a great way to find financial success. More and more people are traveling abroad to start businesses or find new jobs than ever before. It’s not hard to see why this is when you consider how easy international traveling has become. All you need is a passport and a few thousand dollars, and you can get to just about anywhere in the world. If you are interested in moving to another country to start a business, this post has you covered. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about navigating international work visas.

1. Investment Visas

Did you know that it is possible to get an investment visa? Investment visas allow you to get citizenship in countries by offering people jobs. An example of an investment visa scheme is the Golden Visa in Portugal, which allows qualified individuals to obtain Portuguese citizenship much faster than they would if they went through the conventional steps to acquire permanent residency. A qualifying investment has to be made in order to be eligible for the Portuguese Golden Visa. Some investment types include company formation, donation, buying real estate, and venture capital funds. The full list of qualifying assets is available on the official Portuguese Golden Visa site. You can also hire an agent to research qualifying investments for you. Hiring an agent will be covered in more detail later on.

You need to make sure that you have a clean criminal record if you are planning on applying for an investment visa. You won’t get a refund on your investments if you end up being ineligible. Always research your chosen country’s eligibility criteria before applying. If an investment visa is not for you, you can always apply for citizenship by first obtaining a work permit and then getting a green card later on. The process of acquiring citizenship by obtaining a work permit and then applying for a green card can take a lot longer than investment visas can. Patience is essential if you want to pursue the conventional route to citizenship. You also need to have stable employment arranged or plans to start your own company. You’ll need to be able to supply evidence supporting your application, showing you can afford to sustain yourself in the country you are moving to post-arrival.

2. Embassy Applications

Once you have decided how you are going to apply for residency in your chosen country, you can go ahead and start filling out applications and sending them to your local embassy. Some countries allow you to fill out visa applications online, though the vast majority expect you to fill out paper forms and submit them in person. Make sure that you fill out your visa applications carefully. Making mistakes on your application can lead to denial. Lying on your application can also lead to denial. If you are denied, you could be banned from applying for a period of around a year (or more, depending on the severity of your lies).

Make sure that you request the right application forms if you do have to fill them out in person. It’s very common for people to apply for the wrong forms, which consequently leads to delays in their application being processed. For example, if you are applying for a Golden Visa but apply for a standard residency visa, you’ll have to wait until somebody notices, or denies it, and then you will have to request another form and send it off again to be looked at.

3. Understanding Requirements

Take some time to educate yourself on the eligibility requirements of the visa you are interested in applying for. Make sure that you meet every single one of them. Visas are not free. You typically have to pay a processing and handling fee. If you make a mistake on your application, you won’t get a refund. Considering the ongoing cost of living crisis, throwing away money because of carelessness is a very bad idea. If you are having trouble understanding eligibility requirements or any aspect of the visa application you are making, you can get in touch with a professional agent and ask them to assist you.

Another good way to learn about visa eligibility requirements is to watch online videos and read tutorials. Something else to note is that before applying for a visa, make sure you actually want to move to the country you are applying for a visa in and learn about what living in that country entails. Some places seem good on paper but in practicality are not the most comfortable or the safest. If you end up applying for a visa and starting a business in a country you don’t want to live in, leaving could be expensive. Visit as a tourist first and make sure that it’s the place for you.

4. Professional Support

Professional support is always something to consider. You can pay somebody to complete your visa application for you. If you’re applying for a Portuguese golden visa, it is definitely worth looking into this. One of the main advantages of hiring an agent to apply for a visa for you is that no mistakes will be made. As mentioned earlier, mistakes on visa applications can be costly. Some can block you from getting in and others can lead to you losing money. An agent will be able to tell you before you even apply whether or not you are going to be able to.

If you are planning on hiring an agent to support you, make sure that you hire one with good reviews and a high star rating. The higher an agent’s reviews and star rating is, the better. Make sure that you avoid reading reviews posted on the agent’s website. Reviews posted on the agent’s website tend more often than not to be biased. Very few business owners are comfortable posting negative reviews or allowing them to be posted on their websites.

Traveling to another country and starting a business can be a great way to earn yourself some money. There are far more opportunities in countries with growing economies than there are at home. Make sure your business is properly planned out and thought through before you move abroad to start it.

5. How Immigration Lawyers Can Help Entrepreneurs

• Assessing Visa Options: They help identify the best visa based on your business model and long-term goals.
• Ensuring Compliance: Lawyers ensure you meet all legal requirements, avoiding costly mistakes or delays.
• Preparing Documentation: They assist with paperwork, reducing the risk of errors in applications.
• Handling Legal Challenges: If issues arise, an immigration attorney can advocate on your behalf.