移民澳洲|150万澳元投资移民188B:Xenia带您细读条款
归根结底,澳大利亚的移民政策只有这三处来源:联邦法律、移民局对法律的解读以及各州在法律框架下制定的担保提名政策。出自别人之口的一切解读和分析都不如直接看原典来得踏实又实在,一条一条细读下来,必能直击要害。
——痴迷于移民法的Xenia Zhou
今天要细读的是“150万元投资移民”,江湖人称“188B”。
188B只需要投资,不需要到澳洲来开实体生意,而且投资额适中,不像500万(188C)和1500万(188D)两种那么遥不可及,按道理应该会成为很多人的首选移民项目。但事实是,选择188B的人远不及188A多。也总有江湖传闻说这种投资移民成功率低。为何会出现这种情况呢?其实原因很简单:大家只把关注点放在“150万澳元”和“投资”两个关键词上,它们背后的隐藏条件却被忽略了。太多人没有读懂要求就贸然出手,后来者又被这些人的失败吓退……
细读一遍规则,也许下一个成功的就是你噢。
本文细读内容为《澳大利亚移民法规1994》Schedule 2 Clause 188和Clause 888中与188B有关的条款,辅以移民局内部手册PAM中相关内容,蓝字为原文及我对原文的翻译。
第一部分:188签证通用标准
首先是所有188签证的共同要求(188.21 Common criteria ):
188.211
The applicant, and the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,do not have a history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.
188.211
申请人、申请人的配偶或者申请人的事实伴侣没有参与过任何在澳洲被认为是不可接受的商业活动。
有过诈骗行为的,从事传销发家致富的,在此就可以打住了。
188.212
The nominating State or Territory government agency or the CEO of Austrade has not withdrawn the nomination.
188.212
州或者领地政府机构或者澳洲贸易协会对申请人的提名没有撤回。
所有的188签证都必须先有上述机构的担保,这条意思是如果担保在签证获批之前被撤回了,那就会拒签。
188.213
(1) The applicant satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4010, 4020 and 4021.
(2) If the applicant had turned 18 at the time of application, the applicant satisfies public interest criterion 4019.
(3) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass188 visa satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4010 and 4020.
(4) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who:
(a) is an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa; and
(b) had turned 18 at the time of application;
satisfies public interest criterion 4019.
(5) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who:
(a) is an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa; and
(b) has not turned 18;
satisfies public interest criteria 4015 and 4016.
(6) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who is not an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa satisfies public interest criteria 4001, 4002, 4003 and 4004.
这一条说的是“公共利益标准”,里面的每一个四位数的代码代表着一个具体的标准。如果没有犯过罪,没参加过恐怖组织,没伪造过移民材料……这些就都能满足,所以这里就不细说了。
188.214
(1) The applicant satisfies special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.(2) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass188 visa satisfies special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010.
5打头的四位数代码叫“特殊返回标准”,只与以前曾被澳洲取消过签证、遣返或者驱逐出境的人有关。
第二部分:188B自用标准
所有188签证都必须达到的共同标准说完了,下面是188B自己的标准(适用于主申请人):
188.241
(1) The applicant was invited, in writing, by the Minister to apply for the visa.
(2) The applicant:
(a) had not turned 55 at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa; or
(b) is proposing to establish or participate in business or investment activity that the nominating State or Territory government agency has determined is of exceptional economic benefit to the State or Territory in which the agency is located.
188.241
要申请这个签证,必须是移民局邀请才行(自己无法直接申请)。
递交申请的时候,年龄未满55周岁,或者,由于某州或领地政府机构认为申请人能够给当地经济带来非同小可的利益,所以这项年龄要求得以豁免。
每个州对于什么是exceptional economic benefit会有不同的标准,如果有年龄豁免的要求,需要准备特别的文案。除非极特殊的情况,在年龄豁免方面只要得到州或领地政府的支持移民局就不会在这上面为难申请人。
188.242
(1) The applicant’s score on the business innovation and investment points test is notless than the number of points specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this subclause.
(2) For subclause (1):
(a) an applicant’s score on the business innovation and investment points test is the sum of the applicant’s scores under Parts 7A.2, 7A.3, 7A.4, 7A.6, 7A.7, 7A.8, 7A.9 and 7A.10 of Schedule 7A; and
(b) the Minister must not give the applicant the prescribed number of points for more than one prescribed qualification in Parts 7A.2, 7A.3, 7A.4, 7A.6, 7A.7, 7A.8 and 7A.10 of Schedule 7A; and
(c) if the applicant’s circumstances satisfy more than one prescribed qualification in Parts 7A.2, 7A.3, 7A.4, 7A.6, 7A.7, 7A.8 and 7A.10 of Schedule 7A, the Minister must give the applicant points for the qualification that has been satisfied that attracts the highest number of points.
188.242
申请人的移民分数不少于移民局相关法律文件中规定的分数。
这个分数用移民法规Schedule 7A中规定的计算方法计算,在某几项中,如果申请人符合多项要求,按照最高分计算,在同一项中不可累积计算。
创业投资移民中只有188A和188B需要计算移民分数,现在的“规定分数”是65分。打分表在移民法规的Schedule 7A部分,做成表格是这个样子:
加分项一共有九项,但是并不是每一项一定要有分数,不管有几项加分,只要总分达到65分就好。
后面会提到,188B的要求中本身就有一项是“过去两年一直拥有不少于225万澳元的资产”,所以188B的申请人一定能够加上个人资产的35分。剩下的30分,如果年龄在25岁到30岁之间,分数直接就够了。年龄超过33周岁的情况,常见的有这样几种分数组合:(1)年龄25分(不超过40周岁)+学历5分+英语5分;(2)年龄20分+学历5分+投资经验10分;(3)年龄10分+学历5分+投资经验15分……
188.243
(1) The applicant has overall had a successful record of eligible investment activity or qualifying business activity.
(2) The applicant has had a total of at least 3 years experience of direct involvement in managing one or more qualifying business or eligible investments.
(3) The applicant has demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity.
188.243
申请人所从事的合格的投资活动或合格的商业活动具有一个总体成功的记录;
申请人总共起码有3年的对合格的生意或者合格的投资进行直接管理的经验;
在上述管理过程中,申请人展示出高水平的管理能力。
这一条里面出现了两个重要的概念,一个是“合格的生意”qualifying business,一个是“合格的投资”eligible investment。对这两个概念移民法规有相应的定义。合格生意的定义在regulation 1.03:
qualifying business means an enterprise that:
(a) is operated for the purpose of making profit through the provision of goods, services or goods and services (other than the provision of rental property) to the public; and
(b) is not operated primarily or substantially for the purpose of speculative or passive investment.
“合格的生意”是以盈利为目的的,盈利的途径是提供商品或服务或者提供商品和服务(不包括房产出租);主要以投机或被动投资为目的的生意不是“合格的生意”。
期货、期权等金融衍生品在这一语境中都算是投机speculative investment。至于被动投资这点,简单而言就是申请人若要符合qualifying business的要求,就要展示这个企业所做的投资是基于对市场的主动预测。
“合格的投资”的定义出现在Clause 188的前部:
188.112
In this Part, each of the following is an eligible investment if a person owns it for the purpose of producing a return in the form of income or capital gain, and not for personal use:
(a) an ownership interest in a business;
(b) cash on deposit;
(c) stocks or bonds;
(d) real estate;
(e) gold or silver bullion.
188.112
在这部分法规中,下面任何一项,被某人以获得收益为目的而拥有,而非以自用为目的,可被认为是合格的投资:
(a)在一个生意中拥有所有者权益;
(b)现金存款;
(c)股票或债券;
(d)不动产;
(e)金条银条。
这个定义的精髓在于“以获得收益为目的”。
要证明自己对生意或投资是“直接管理”,就要提供相关细节,组织材料时应该抓住三个关键词:decision,responsibility以及influence。
至于“高水平的管理能力”,放在投资方面,指的是对投资做出判断和预期,就算是长期投资,仍然要经常做投资进行评估,已决定下一步行动。这里的关键词就是evaluation。而在生意方面,高层次的管理能力体现在对人的管理,以及对政策的制定上。
188.244
For at least one of the 5 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa:
(a) both of the following apply:
(i) the applicant maintained direct involvement in managing a qualifying business;
(ii) the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together, had an ownership interest of at least 10% of the total value of the business; or
(b) both of the following apply:
(i) the applicant maintained direct involvement in managing eligible investments of the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together;
(ii) the total net value of the eligible investments was at least AUD 1500 000.
188.244
在递交签证申请之前的5个财年中至少有1个财年满足下面两个条件之一:
(a)主申请人持续地直接参与管理一个符合要求的生意,在这个生意中,主申请人或主申请人的配偶或事实伴侣,或主申请人与其配偶或事实伴侣一起,拥有至少10%的所有者权益。
(b)主申请人持续地直接参与管理投资,投资由主申请人、主申请人的配偶或事实伴侣,或主申请人与其配偶或事实伴侣共同持有,总净值不少于150万澳元。
一个188B的申请人可以选择向移民局展示自己满足条件(a)或者条件(b),二者有一个满足即可。
这条首先需要注意的是主语,这里的“the applicant”指的都是主申请人。生意或投资可以是主申请人与配偶或事实伴侣共同拥有,也可以是申请人的配偶或事实伴侣独自拥有,但按照这个条款,不管所有权如何,主申请人都必须直接参与生意或者投资的管理。为了证明自己满足这一条件,申请人需要提交一份Statement of management activity,同时还要交一份resume。Resume中要按时间顺序列举自己所有的商业行为历史,而statement着重写其中一个财年。
其次要注意计算投资额的时候,需要对照着上面讲到的eligible investment的定义来算。比如,自住房屋就不算eligible investment,其价值不能计算进去。
188.245
For the 2 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa, the business and personal assets of the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner, or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together, had a net value of at least AUD 2 250000.
188.245
在递交签证申请之前的2个财年中,主申请人或者主申请人的配偶或事实伴侣,或者主申请人与其配偶或事实伴侣一起拥有的生意以及个人财产总值不少于225万澳元。
这项条款的目的是要保证申请人及其家人在完成指定投资、获得签证并来到澳洲之后有足够的资金定居,并且继续从事投资或商业活动,
188.246
(1) The applicant has made a designated investment of at least AUD 1500 000 in the State or Territory in which the nominating State or Territory government agency is located, and has made the investment:
(a) in the name of the applicant; or
(b) in the names of the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner.
(2) The funds used to make the designated investment mentioned in subclause (1) were:
(a) unencumbered;and
(b) accumulated from either or both of:
(i) one or more qualifying businesses conducted by the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together;and
(ii) eligible investment activities of the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together.
188.246
申请人按照州或领地政府机构指定的方式以自己或者配偶或事实伴侣的名义,或者以自己和配偶或事实伴侣共同的名义投资了不少于150万澳元;用于投资的这些钱不存在举债的情况,而且必须是来自于合格的生意或者合格的投资的盈利。
这一条非常关键。它的存在使188B成为188系列中的一个异数,因为不管是188A创业移民还是188C和188D更大数额的投资移民,对所投入资金的来源都没有具体的规定,只要是合法获得就行,而188B的这一条非常明确地规定了这150万澳元的来源。
我们来举几个不符合这条要求的例子:
1. 申请人:我做建筑公司,是合伙人,负责设计和日常管理。生意还算成功,但是我用来投资澳洲的这笔钱是父母给的。
移民局:拒签!生意是“合格的生意”,但钱不是来自于合格的生意。
2. 申请人:我投资各种房产,现在涨了不少,不舍得买,用来投资澳洲的这笔钱是担任企业高管所得收入存下来的。
移民局:拒签!投资是“合格的投资”,但是钱不是来自于合格的投资。
3. 申请人:这是我出本金委托他人帮我炒股挣出来的钱,我一点心都没操。
移民局:拒签!投资不是“合格的投资”,因为不是你自己管理的。
……
针对这一条款,在准备文案的时候首先是要牢牢抓住“合格的生意”或“合格的投资”的定义,其次是要拿出证据证明这笔钱确实是上述生意或投资所得。
在审核一份188B申请的时候,签证官会先考察其他条件,在其他条件都满足的情况下才会要求申请人做出指定投资,以满足188.246(1)。提出这一要求的方式是给一封信,让申请人在70天内完成投资。但是在完成投资之后,签证官仍然有可能对申请做进一步的评估。
188.247
The business and personal assets of the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner,or the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together:
(a) are lawfully acquired; and
(b) are available for transfer to Australia within 2 years after the grant of a Subclass 188 visa.
188.247
主申请人、主申请人的配偶或事实伴侣,或主申请人与其配偶或事实伴侣共同拥有的商业及个人资产均为合法所得,并且能在签证获批2年之内转移到澳大利亚。
有些朋友可能会误认为这条里面提到需要转移的资产是指那投资的150万澳元,那是因为没有注意到上面一条188.246的时态是完成时,而188.247这一条讲的是将来的事情,它们指的不是一笔钱。移民局的期望是188B签证持有者最终会带着他们的钱在澳洲定居。关于除150万澳元的投资以外申请人还需要有多少可转移资产,移民局没给出一个明确的数字,但这个数额起码要能够支撑申请人及其家人在澳洲安定下来才说得过去。如果我们联想到前面的188.245条款为何要规定总资产至少225万澳元,其实是可以得出这样的结论的:申请人需要证明除了投资的150万之外至少还有75万澳元可以转移到澳洲。
188.248
(1) The applicant genuinely has a realistic commitment to continue to maintain businessor investment activity in Australia aftert he designated investment made by the applicant, or by the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner,matures.
(2) The applicant has a genuine intention to reside for at least 2 years in the Stateor Territory in which he or she made the designated investment application.
188.248
申请人做出真实的承诺,承诺在指定投资到期之后继续在澳洲从事商业活动或投资活动;
申请人有真实意愿在指定州或领地居住至少两年。
这一条对于188签证的申请来说是一个承诺,但是对于以后转永居签证来说就是一个明确的要求。
188.249
(1) The applicant satisfies public interest criterion 4005.
(2) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who is an applicant for a Subclass188 visa satisfies public interest criterion 4005.
(3) Each member of the family unit of the applicant who is not an applicant for a Subclass 188 visa satisfies public interest criterion 4005 unless it would be unreasonable to require the member to undergo assessment inrelation to the criterion.
主申请人、与主申请人一起申请此签证的所有核心家庭成员,以及不与主申请人一起申请此签证的所有核心家庭成员,都必须符合4005号公共利益标准。
4005是一个健康标准,大家会注意到这个条款的范围包括不随主申请人一起移民的核心家庭成员。在澳大利亚移民语境中,“核心家庭成员”只包括配偶或事实伴侣(异性或同性)以及未成年子女。
至此,188B签证的要求就读完了。
第三部分:888签证要求中的相关规则
别忘了,188签证是一个临时签证,只有在持有这一签证期间达到某些标准才可以申请888永久签证,成为澳大利亚永久居民。
Clause 888中下面三条与此相关:
888.213
The applicant genuinely has a realistic commitment to maintain business or investment activities in Australia.
888.213
申请人做出在澳大利亚持续商业或投资活动的真实承诺。
这一条与Clause 188中的话是一脉相承的。拿到188签证之后的日子不能干等4年投资到期,而要从事一些其他投资或者商业活动,这样到申请888签证的时候才能让签证官信服你拿到永久签证之后仍然会这样做。
888.231
The applicant has been in Australia, as the holder of a visa mentioned in the table in subitem 1104BA(5) of Schedule 1, for a total period of at least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before the application was made.
888.231
在递交888签证之前的四年中,累计至少有两年持188B签证居住在澳大利亚。
相较于500万澳元和1500万澳元的投资移民,这个居住要求是比较高的。
888.232
The designated investment made by the applicant for the purpose of satisfying a criterion for the grant of a Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa has been held continuously in the name of the applicant, or in the names of the applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner together, for:(a) if the Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa was granted on the basis of an application made before 1 July 2015 — at least 3 years and 11 months; or
(b) if the Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa was granted on the basis of an application made on or after 1 July 2015 — at least 4 years.
888.232
为了满足188B签证而做的指定投资至少已在主申请人或者其配偶或事实伴侣名下,或在二者共同名下持续了3年零11个月(如果188B申请递交于2015年7月1日之前)或4年整(如果188B申请递交于2015年7月1日之后)。
前面我们讲过,是先把钱投到指定投资,然后才会批签证,所以这一条满足的时候可能持有188B签证不足4年,只要在此之前已经住满2年,就可以申请888签证。
以上就是对188B150万澳元投资移民相关条款的细读。读懂条款已属不易,要把自身的情况与这些条款一一对照,再整理成statement和移民局指定的表格,并提供相应证据,更加具有挑战性。
大家都不容易,祝您好运。