為打擊洗錢暫停英國投資者簽證計畫

2018.12.11

移民新聞

為打擊洗錢暫停英國投資者簽證計畫

2018年12月06日,BBC,引述一篇關於英國投資移民政策暫停相關新聞報導:

以下為寰宇移民翻譯：

作為打擊金融犯罪的一部分，部長們正在製定一項“黃金”簽證計劃，為外國投資者提供在英國定居的快速通道。

2008年引入一級投資者簽證，鼓勵歐盟以外的富人投資英國。

一筆200萬英鎊的投資購買了簽證，五年後可以申請永久居住。但有人擔心這個計劃被用來洗錢。

部長們表示，其暫停將結束於審計程序出台後。

“我們不會容忍那些不遵守規則並試圖濫用該制度的人，”移民部長Caroline Nokes表示，宣布暫停將於週五午夜(12月7日午夜12:00)生效。

“這就是為什麼我提出這些新措施，以確保只有真正支持英國企業的投資者才能從我們的移民系統中受益。”

授予一級投資者簽證的數量在2014年達到頂峰（1,172）。去年該數字為350，其中中國和俄羅斯投資者的數字最高。

該計劃以前要求申請人擁有英國銀行賬戶並具有“良好品格”。

內政部表示，從明年開始，獨立的受監管審計師將評估申請人的財務和商業利益，並檢查他們已經控制了至少兩年的資金。

成功的候選人有資格獲得持續三年零四個月的簽證，可以延期兩年。

2011年，政府希望通過允許投資者提出申請解決身份的日期來吸引“最聰明，最優秀”。在英國花費1000萬英鎊將等待時間縮短至兩年。

然而，三年後，移民諮詢委員會表示，該計劃給英國公民帶來的經濟利益很少，因為大多數申請人都在購買金邊債券以獲得資格 - 因此有效地借貸政府資金，而非投資英國。

內政部表示，未來將有一項由政府支持的集合投資條款，以支持對英國有“明顯經濟利益”的項目，如支持中小企業。

以下為原文
Investor visa scheme halted in money laundering crackdown

Ministers are halting a "gold-plated" visa scheme offering foreign investors a fast-track to settling in the UK, as part of a crackdown on financial crime.

Tier 1 investor visas were introduced in 2008 to encourage rich people from outside the EU to invest in the UK.

A £2m investment bought a visa and indefinite leave to remain after five years. But concerns were raised the scheme was being used to launder money.

Its suspension will end after an audit process is introduced, ministers say.

"We will not tolerate people who do not play by the rules and seek to abuse the system," said Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes, announcing the suspension would come into effect at midnight on Friday.

"That is why I am bringing forward these new measures which will make sure that only genuine investors, who intend to support UK businesses, can benefit from our immigration system."

The number of granted Tier 1 investor visas peaked in 2014 (1,172). Last year the figure stood at 350, with the highest numbers going to Chinese and Russian investors.

The scheme previously required that applicants had a UK bank account and were of "good character".

From next year, independent, regulated auditors will assess applicants' financial and business interests and check they have had control of the funds for at least two years, the Home Office said.

Successful candidates have been eligible for visas lasting three years and four months, with two-year extensions available.

In 2011, the government hoped to attract the "brightest and best" by allowing investors to bring forward the date at which they could apply for settled status. Spending £10m in the UK cut the wait to just two years.

However, three years later, the Migration Advisory Committee said the scheme brought little economic benefit for British citizens because most applicants were buying gilts to qualify - so were effectively loaning the government money, rather than investing in the UK.

The Home Office said in future there will be a provision for pooled investments, supported by the government, to back projects with a "clear economic benefit to the UK" such as supporting small and medium-sized businesses.

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