How far is immigration from you?
“Immigration is a goal I strive for in this life; even if I cannot immigrate myself, I will certainly find a way to help my descendants immigrate.” Many people express strong confidence when it comes to immigration. Those who meet the immigration criteria are proceeding steadily, while those who do not are actively creating conditions to immigrate.
A recent immigration intention survey revealed that among over 2,000 questionnaires, 88.6% expressed a desire to immigrate, with a trend towards younger ages. Among those aged 31 to 40, 39% wanted to immigrate, 23.6% were aged 26 to 30, and 13.4% were aged 18 to 25. Nearly 80% indicated that once they have the funds or conditions to purchase immigration, they would do so without hesitation. Even if they face failure once, 42.2% would continue to persist, and 50.9% have the support of family and friends for immigration.
This demonstrates the high enthusiasm for immigration among Chinese citizens. The spirit of immigration is remarkably resilient. Additionally, nearly 60% of those considering immigration in the past two years have given it considerable thought, with nearly 40% reflecting deeply on the decision. It is evident that for those entering the middle class in Chinese society, immigration is not an impulsive decision but a more rational choice. They have stable jobs, good incomes, and a certain social status, belonging to the upper-middle class, while another group consists of businesspeople.
Regarding methods of immigration, 40.9% choose investment, 32.7% opt for skilled migration, and 21.1% are currently studying abroad, with their ideal immigration method being to work in the country for a few years after completing their studies and then obtain a green card. Regardless of the method, they are full of confidence; immigration is imperative, and obtaining a green card is a must!
However, for most potential immigrants, immigration is not a straightforward matter. In recent years, U.S. immigration policy has gradually shifted from "talent attraction" to "wealth attraction." The EB-5 U.S. investment immigration program is a prime example.
This program is a category of immigration visa established under U.S. immigration law for overseas investment immigrants, abbreviated as "EB-5." It stipulates an investment amount of $500,000 for immigration applications. At the current exchange rate, this amount is less than 3.5 million RMB. Canada has just doubled its investment threshold from 400,000 CAD to 800,000 CAD, which, when converted to RMB, is about 5.1 million. Such an investment amount is negligible for wealthy individuals in China. However, for the middle-income group, immigration remains a niche endeavor.
The path to immigration can be smooth or fraught with challenges; immigration requires talent, money, and time. How far is immigration from you?
Immigration is part of our life planning.
What is the purpose of immigration? The sound social systems of foreign countries, beautiful natural environments, high-quality education, generous welfare, low tax rates, clean air, visa-free access to multiple countries, and even the sincere relationships between people all hold immense appeal for immigrants.
In the past decade, as immigration policies in various receiving countries have relaxed, an increasing number of intellectual and wealthy elites from China have acquired citizenship in countries such as Australia, Singapore, the United States, and Germany. Nowadays, many people lament that at least one friend or a friend of a friend is in the process of or has already immigrated. What exactly is driving this persistent wave of immigration?
First, the need for development. For some social elites, the issue is not survival but development. Developed countries may better meet their expectations for a stable and peaceful life, prompting them to start anew abroad.
Second, the need for asset preservation. In the face of financial crises and economic pressures, many newly wealthy individuals have a stronger demand for asset preservation and appreciation, while domestic investment channels are relatively limited compared to those abroad, where more favorable conditions seem to be available in terms of taxes and government support.
Third, and most importantly for many, is the education of their children. In China, the cost of raising a child from middle school to university, along with various school fees and tutoring costs, is enough to cover immigration expenses. Rather than waiting for their children to grow up and sending them abroad, it is better to integrate them into overseas life from a young age.
Fourth, with a large population in China, especially after the financial crisis, many developed countries have relaxed investment immigration policies to stimulate their economies, attracting numerous Chinese investors to settle. Investment immigration has become a focal point for a new wave of immigrants. Some even believe that rather than struggling domestically, it is better to transfer capital abroad for development and retirement.
The survey concluded that 7.7% chose to immigrate for security and to escape "wealth envy," while only 1.1% immigrated for investment purposes. Meanwhile, 42.5% immigrated for the sound social systems, welfare systems, and living environments of foreign countries, and 26.5% sought to live healthily in a high-quality natural environment, while 1.4% did so for career or work needs.
The motivations for immigration primarily stem from the following aspects:
1. To invest abroad, having foreign status allows for convenient travel between countries, facilitating business expansion and benefiting long-term company development.
2. For children. Many parents seeking immigration express that their children face excessive pressure in domestic schools, often unable to rest even on weekends, prompting them to consider immigration. After immigrating, there are two benefits: it alleviates the burden on children and allows them to attend prestigious universities. It is well-known that the most famous universities in China do not rank among the top 100 in the world, while many world-class institutions are within the top 500. After immigration, children can easily gain admission to these renowned schools, which is advantageous for their future development.
3. Cost savings. Investment immigration is also more economical than study-abroad immigration. Taking Australia as an example, a child graduating from high school and going abroad to study costs at least 250,000 RMB per year. Over five years, including one year of preparatory courses and four years of undergraduate studies, the total cost is around 1.2 million RMB, while the cost for the whole family to immigrate is only about 700,000 RMB. Additionally, students with immigration status can receive priority for substantial government scholarships during their university studies.
4. A comprehensive welfare system provides security for retirement. Foreign countries have well-established welfare systems. There is a saying, although not very pleasant, that aptly describes the situation: from the moment you land until you are laid to rest, the state provides you with security! For example, there are childbirth allowances, milk allowances, childcare allowances, free education from primary to high school, interest-free loans for university, unemployment benefits, medical insurance, and pension insurance, allowing you to live without worries.
5. To escape current pressures and environments. In Beijing, one must work a lifetime just to afford a house; the work and living environments can be suffocating, leading many to suffer from mental health issues. In contrast, the work environment abroad is relatively relaxed; bosses do not supervise you closely; they only care about results, and overtime is generally prohibited.
6. A love for foreign cultures and customs. Some people are particularly enthusiastic about exotic cultures and thus seek to immigrate. In foreign countries, these individuals can fully enjoy the lifestyle they desire, achieving their best mental state.
For immigrants, whether to obtain citizenship after immigration is a dilemma. Each choice has its pros and cons: the advantages include convenience for travel and work abroad, as well as facilitating family immigration in the future. The disadvantages include the hassle of obtaining work visas for career development in China.
Global Citizens After Immigration
Due to the shift in work focus and the continuous expansion of business and social circles, some immigrant Chinese have become global citizens.
They are neither "taking root" nor "returning to their roots"; instead, they have "multiple roots." Wherever there are development opportunities, that is home.
In today's rapidly developing Chinese economy, elites and successful entrepreneurs from various industries have discovered a new lifestyle and philosophy through frequent business and travel, seeing a broader space for development. Consequently, they are increasingly using investment immigration as a secure and swift means to shift their careers and lives to a more favorable living environment.
Holding multiple passports or green cards allows them to enjoy the conveniences of being global citizens. Each choice has its rationale. Currently, many investment immigration applicants have businesses in China, and their primary motivation for immigration is to provide their children with access to high-quality education abroad and to enjoy superior welfare. Having an overseas identity also provides businesses with an international platform.
Some entrepreneurs after immigration have not chosen to conduct business abroad; due to language barriers and lack of connections, they find it more advantageous to stay in China, where the economy is rapidly growing each year, creating a fertile ground for business opportunities. Another reason is that the return on investment abroad is only around 15%, which is considered high profit, while in China, it is still relatively low. Therefore, they are reluctant to abandon their profitable homeland.
However, treating overseas locations as bases for their businesses can naturally lead to certain development directions, potentially becoming opportunities and starting points for employment and entrepreneurship. Some entrepreneurs are no longer satisfied with keeping all their business operations in China; they are learning from and emulating successful foreign companies through business investigations, gradually occupying the upstream of the product value chain.
Many immigrants actually operate in both countries, splitting their work focus. They maintain their domestic businesses while exploring new opportunities abroad, broadening their horizons. This allows them to experience two different lifestyles in two different countries, relocating their homes without changing their nationality. Although it may be busier, it can lead to a win-win situation. As their business landscape expands, their vision continues to broaden, naturally accelerating the pace of immigration from North America to Europe. Immigration has created a large number of global citizens.
