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Buy EU Residency the Easy Way: Buy A House in Latvia

April 13, 2011 By 6 Comments

One of the questions we get a lot is how can you easily obtain an EU Schengen Residency Visa? Well, now you can get one through Latvia, simply by buying property there.

Obtaining EU residency is one of the hardest things to get in the world even though Europe has a reputation for being open to immigrants. Well, there’s now an easy way to get EU residency – if you’ve got deep pockets.

Contact our local Latvian Real Estate Agent.

According to Immigration Matters:

Anyone from outside the European Union who buys property in Latvia or invest in business will now receive EU residency rights, the BBC reports.

With Latvia suffering one of the worst economic crises in Europe, many praise the new way of attracting foreign investment.

Property buyers can get European Union residency rights thrown in as an added ‘bonus’, rather like a free washing machine with a Wimpy starter home.

Critics say European residency rules could be abused by criminals, but the real point is whilst the UK and other countries spend millions trying to restrict non-EU immigration and secure their borders, Latvia, a member of the European Union, is effectively flogging EU passports through Estate Agents!

Yes, you can now legally buy EU residency from Latvian Estate Agents!

Source.

After obtaining Schengen visa area residency – you could then live and work anywhere in the EU that’s within the Schengen – including the UK. I suspect a rental market glut will soon be apparent in Latvia once people get word of this.

 

Filed Under: EU, Passports, Schengen, Visas Tagged With:

Countries and Nations that Have Birthright Citizenship – Jus Soli

January 8, 2011 By 11 Comments

One of the most fascinating and controversial aspects of modern immigration is the concept of Birthright Citizenhsip, also known as Jus Soli.

The basic definition of Jus Soli is that anyone born in a certain country, no matter their nationality is entitled to nationality/citizenship in that country simply for being born there, no matter the legality or status of the parents.

For example, a child born to a Mexican citizen in the United States (whether they’re in the USA legally or not) is automatically a US citizen when they’re born. It’s a principle upheld in the US constitution. I should add – that in most cases that child would also be a Mexican national and thus hold dual citizenship in both countries (we’ll have more on this in the future).

As beautiful as this concept is – it’s actually pretty uncommon in the world. Only about 20% of countries guarantee nationality at birth because it’s so controversial.

So, if you’re looking to give your child a better life and perhaps travel to a certain country to give birth and then leave – here is a list of countries that still have birthright citizenship (jus soli).

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Fiji
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Jamaica
  • Lesotho
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Saint Christopher and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

If you’re child is born in any of these countries, getting them at second passport is usually just a matter of proving birth and applying for a passport as any other citizen of that country would.

Filed Under: Citizenship, Concepts, Passports Tagged With: ,

How to Get a US Passport for the First Time

December 13, 2010 By 1 Comment

With the ongoing economic and political uncertainty in the United States, it’s a good idea to have a passport ready so that you can leave the country in an emergency or if you want to find more profitable work abroad. You also need it if you just want to go on a vacation abroad. You now have to have a Passport to enter and leave the US no matter what due to Homeland Security regulations implemented after 9/11. Yes, you even need a US Passport to go to Canada or Mexico.

If you are U.S. Citizen and you need to get passport, the steps are relatively simple. These directions are for people who have never had a passport before and are getting them for the first time. Getting a passport is only mildly involved.

Basically the onus is on you to prove who you are and that you are a US Citizen. You can through the process and get a Passport at most major Post Office branches. You can see which Post Offices can do Passports on the official USPS Website. Be sure to select Passport Application locations. If you are applying for a US Passport for the first time, you will need to apply in person.

You will need:

  1. Download the US Passport form and fill it out: State Department Passport Forms Website
  2. You’ll need to show your birth certificate or other proof of your citizenship
  3. You’ll need proof of ID (driver’s license, state issued ID)
  4. Acceptable Passport Picture (See form for guidelines)
  5. Go in person and Apply
  6. Pay the fees, $75 Application fee plus $25 at the Post Office ($100)
  7. You should get your new Passport in 2-3 months as look as everything checks out.
  8. When you get your passport in a couple months, be sure to go through it and read is carefully so that you understand what exactly the document is and your rights and privileges as a US citizen while your abroad. You also have to sign it for it to be valid.

If you need a Passport in a much shorter period of time, there are services that can rush the process for you. But you will have to pay handsomely for the service. The State Department can also issue US Passports in an emergency situation (like if you got robbed while abroad). Enjoy traveling internationally. You are joining a select club. Only a fraction of Americans bother to get Passports and with it you can go almost anywhere in the world (accept where US Citizens are barred). It’s an incredible freedom to know that you can go almost anywhere and be protected under international law.

Filed Under: How To's, Passports, United States