Uglobal Immigration Magazine is pleased to announce the Top 25 Global Migration Agency CEOs for 2021. To be eligible, distinguished global migration agency CEOs needed to represent clients on outbound investments and migration solutions to other countries.
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DESMOND ANG
Global Migration Solutions
HQ: Malaysia
Founded: 2004
Desmond Ang is the founder of Global Migration Solutions with presence across Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. Being a Registered Migration Agent with a tenured experience of 17 years makes him a specialist for all of Australia and New Zealand migration programs, with skills in handling entrepreneurs and high-net-worth investors. His firm is also a top provider in Malaysia for investment-based residency programs such as the Portugal Golden Visa and the U.S. EB-5. His strong foundation in finance is key to his expertise in managing migration programs of this nature. Ang has also presented in numerous Uglobal events internationally, and has been recognized with awards by Uglobal Immigration Magazine.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
The pandemic has redefined migration and also brought a great realization that the world is not as borderless as it seemed. Migration, to many, came as a need and no longer just “nice to have.” We faced a surge in interest for two key reasons: the importance of residing in a country capable of handling a critical crisis management, secondly, to be closer to their families. Our clients opted for top-tier investment programs in Australia and New Zealand seeking security, and the need to be reunited with their family members through faster and flexible residency visas.
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EDWIN SHIEH
Shenzhen ADH Migration and Education Services Co.
HQ: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Founded: 1993
Edwin Shieh is Chairman of ADH Group, president of “Going Abroad” magazine, and executive vice president of the Guangdong Provincial Immigration Association for Migration & Immigration. He also serves as Chairman of the Shenzhen branch. Shieh is a leading figure in the domestic immigration and education services.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
Over the past two years, the pandemic has had a profound effect on the immigration and education industries. With global travel restrictions in place, construction and project delays, in addition to many other factors have caused families to alter their plans in terms of migration and pursuing educational opportunities abroad. Now that we move into a post-pandemic society, many HNWIs have shown great interest in pursuing overseas opportunities for themselves and their families. Additionally, family trusts, funds, and other family inheritance and planning have also attracted a growing number of potential investors looking for alternative options. This spring, we anticipate a great deal of clients and we expect the industry to rebound as a whole.
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HENRY ZOU
Henry Group
HQ: Beijing, China
Founded: 1992
Dr. Henry Zou is Board Chairman of Henry Group. Zou graduated from the National University of Defense Technology in 1984 and obtained a Ph.D. in materials science from McMaster University in 1991. He founded Henry Group in 1992, putting forward the four-pronged strategy of global investment—globalization of education, identity, assets, and business—and leading the growth of the group into one of the world’s largest overseas education and immigration company. Henry Group is one of the largest Chinese real estate developer, investor and financier in North America.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
Pandemic-related travel restrictions have caused delays and a reduction in RCBI activity in some countries, but the sector remains generally strong. Global mobility, asset allocation and education are still the top drivers of RCBI programs. Despite the Delta variant wave, we have seen an increase in education-related demand among our clients. In the United States, we have seen an increase in approvals for education visas. We believe the international travel restrictions will make our clients focus even more on the importance of global mobility, further boosting interest in overseas education. We are concerned about limits in governments' capacity to handle the backlog once pandemic restrictions on RCBI programs are lifted.
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JEAN LU
Mason's Immigration Services
HQ: Taipei City, Taiwan
Founded: 2006
Jean Lu is the CEO of Mason’s Immigration Services based in Taipei, Taiwan. The company has promoted the U.S. immigrant investor program since 2004. Lu and her team have handled 68 different projects, which allowed immigrant families to smoothly obtain their two-year conditional permanent resident cards, and successfully remove conditions. All projects by Mason’s Immigration Services were based on 5-year loans, and all the investment capitals were repaid after loan maturity date.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
During the past two years with the pandemic, we have swiftly made full use of online seminars/events. We scheduled Q&As and weekly interviews in the local newspaper, replacing the traditional physical forums to connect with our prospective clients. We have even managed to sign contracts with new clients online and complete the application process without physically meeting them. The world is changing, so we have to change our ways to meet the new challenges and serve our clients!
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KEUM-HEE HONG
Club Emigration
HQ: South Korea
Founded: 1984
Keum-hee Hong, CEO of Club Emigration, has played a pioneering role in the Korean immigration market since 1990. Hong has always worked diligently, putting an emphasis on clients’ point of view. She has always strived to establish a safe program, and as a result, the company is successfully leading the immigration business.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
We are experiencing a “mix-match” trend that simultaneously promotes citizenship or permanent residency, which can be promoted immediately after making a decision, and permanent residency of the country you want to live in even if it takes time to check-in. People are looking for a country where they can safely manage the money that they saved; a healthy and clean country in light of COVID-19; a country to choose in consideration of their children’s future. They “mix and match” where they choose to live and apply it according to their needs.
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MEE HYEON KIM
Hanmaum Immigration Corp.
HQ: South Korea
Founded: 2000
Mee Hyeon Kim is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and CEO of Hanmaum Immigration Corp., based in Seoul, South Korea, and an office in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from Hanyang University with a degree in education technology and obtained her master’s degree in English education from Yonsei University. Prior to founding Hanmaum Immigration Corp. in 2000, she established Hanyang Immigration Corp as a professional partner. She has extensive experience as an immigration and education consultant.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
The years 2020 and 2021 have been challenging for the RCBI industry. Foreign investors seem to feel afraid of proceeding with their immigration processes amid Covid-19. However, as vaccines are becoming more widespread in South Korea, concerns about Covid-19 are being relieved dramatically. EB-5 investors seem to prefer residential buildings over commercial ones for the repayment of the investment as the number of people working from home has been increasing. Following the new trends, we as Hanmaum Immigration Corp. are well prepared to introduce various projects, including residential and commercial buildings, through reviewing project documents and due diligence.
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NURI KATZ
Apex Capital Partners
HQ: Toronto, Canada
Founded: 1992
Nuri Katz is the founder and president of Apex Capital Partners Corp., and has more than 30 decades of international experience in the field of immigration and residency planning, citizenship acquisition, cross-border property and other investments, as well as global diplomacy. Katz is a licensed member of The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, the governing board of Canadian immigration consultants, and has practiced Canadian immigration for nearly 30 years. APEX is government-authorized in all the Caribbean CIP countries. APEX has advised numerous governments starting in 2002 with the government of Canada on matters related to citizenship and immigration, taxation, and international relations.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
COVID-19 hasn’t changed the industry simply by limiting travel, although that has been significant, but also because of the cultural and social impact we’re experiencing in so many parts of the world. The United States is a good example; as a country not commonly associated with obtaining citizenship elsewhere, it has now become a hotbed for RCBI business. Similarly, some of the trends that have emerged in Europe, Asia and the Middle East following COVID are now resulting in new regions opening up CIP programs for global citizens.
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PEARCE CHENG
AIMS
HQ: Singapore
Founded: 2006
Pearce Cheng, a winner of Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s prestigious Top Global Migration Agency CEOs title for 3 years, has over 15 years of experience in immigration consultancy, relocation services and wealth management. Cheng spearheaded the rapid growth of AIMS to 10 countries in the Asia Pacific, over 300 employees and consistent yearly revenue growth. Before founding AIMS, he was a banker in DBS Bank Singapore, financial service manager and premier adviser of Prudential Assurance with a portfolio of HNW clients from the ASEAN region. Cheng is multi-lingual and speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
We have seen more and more HNWIs migrate to mitigate the uncertainty and unpredictability. During COVID-19, Singapore has emerged as one of the safest havens for investment and settlement with the highest vaccination rate. Headquartered in Singapore with offices across 10 Asian countries, AIMS takes pride in our top-notch business migration solutions, making it easy for HNWIs to gain Singapore residence with exclusive perks like pathway to full citizenship, long-term stay permits for family members, world-class education, and a powerful banking hub.
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PILLAR WANG
Aucanlink International Consulting Co.
HQ: China
Founded: 2007
Pillar Wang is the president of Shandong Aucanlink International Consulting Co. He is also the vice president of Beijing Shandong Chamber of Commerce. Wang is one of the most influential members of the immigration industry in all of China.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
On the one hand, the pandemic has greatly reduced the overall scale of the global RCBI industry and, in response, has accelerated the shift toward network technologies. Many migration firms have been unable to compete and we have seen an exodus of many former competitors, leaving a great deal of opportunity within the market. On the other hand, we need to continue to push forward and explore new opportunities in an effort to meet the needs of clients, foster continued success, and develop new practices that appropriately reflect the new global situation.
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RICK CHANG
Luby International Consulting Co.
HQ: Taiwan
Founded: 1983
With over 30 years of experience in the field of immigration, Rick Chang and his team—along with renowned lawyers and accountants—have consistently offered professional and high-quality service to clients all over Asia. Luby International Consulting Company has over 10 overseas branches in Canada, U.S., and Taiwan, providing clients immediate support. Luby is a leading figure in the industry and has been recognized consecutively as a top immigration agency by EB5 Investors Magazine and Uglobal Immigration Magazine since 2018.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, families are still eager to find ways to obtain an additional permanent residence status or passport. They have even stronger desire to send their children to the U.S. for better education and a more promising future with more job opportunities. We continue to receive an increasing number of U.S. immigration inquiries and applicants in all means of migration methods. Regardless of the EB-5 lapse, clients are willing to prepare documents, ready the investment, and wait for the EB-5 reauthorization. Luby provides free consultation and evaluation, simply to assist these families in accomplishing their migration plans.
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SANDHYA KAPOOR
ActiveAvenues
HQ: India
Founded: 2015
Sandhya Kapoor is a director at ActiveAvenues, where she leads the effort to provide bespoke residency and citizenship by investment solutions to the firm’s extensive clientele. Initially focused on the EB-5 program, Kapoor has expanded the firm’s product offerings to include programs for Portugal, Grenada, Canada and other European / Caribbean jurisdictions. She has considerable experience in the Indian business environment and is valued by clients for her attention to detail, thoughtfulness, and discretion. She has leveraged her extensive knowledge of the different investment migration programs to create awareness across her network and channel partners. Kapoor holds an MBA from Oxford University.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
Covid has brought the concept of alternative residency and citizenship by investment to the forefront of the investor mindset. Earlier investors would explore these options as “good to know,” however, the restrictions on obtaining not only tourist but even student, business and employment visas during the pandemic has convinced them that these are “good to have.” In India specifically, while numerous investors have awakened to the possibilities on offer, they tend to place value on discretion and references from networks to identify service providers to work with. With many Indians settled overseas, the local diaspora is keen to provide their families with the freedom of movement, employment and settlement these programs provide.
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SELENA CHOI
Selena Emigration Corp.
HQ: Republic of Korea
Founded: 2016
Selena Choi has been in the immigration industry for 22 years. With 43 citizenship and residency programs in the U.S., EU, Australia including CIP, Selena Emigration Corp. has had outstanding growth due to Choi’s passion. Her company is recommended by clients and is a leading company in immigration and international real estate market. However, the range of her company’s service is not limited to immigration services, but also other services such as investment advisory, property acquisition, tax advisory, private education, asset management and professional legal support.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
Due to the post Covid-19 economic downturn, affluent individuals became more interested in an opportunity to secure a stable future for their families. Their motivation to move to another country had an increased focus on the value of security and health. According to this kind of demand, there is an influx of applicants for residence permit, citizenship, and wealth management advisory service.
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VINH DANG
Khai Phu Investments & Migration
HQ: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Founded: 2009
Vinh Dang is the CEO and founder of Khai Phu Investments & Migration, a leading agency in Vietnam with further operations and offices in Melbourne, Australia, and Delaware, USA. With more than 1100 successful client cases throughout more than 10 years, Khai Phu has established themselves as a legitimate and trustworthy partner that offers their clients exclusive global investment options. Dang has a Ph.D. in international immigration law from Melbourne University. He is a three-time Uglobal Top 25 award winner. Dang was named one of Vietnam’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs of 2019, Vietnam Top 40 CEOs Under 40 for 2015, 2016 and 2017, and is recipient of the HCMC Community Contributor Award.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
The pandemic has drastically affected the RCBI industry. The situation in Vietnam was a rollercoaster, with my country initially defended itself against the virus quite successfully. Many clients and Vietnamese HNWIs mainly focused on spending time with their family and decided to put investment and global migration on hold. Despite this, we were able to find further opportunity by shifting a greater focus on offering private real estate investment for our clients in the USA, parts of Europe, and various island nations. Now that the vaccine has begun to make its way around the world, we have seen a record spike in inquiries from families. However, we anticipate the spring to be very fortunate.
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WONJOON KANG
Kornova Investments Inc.
HQ: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Founded: 2006
Wonjoon Kang is the managing director of Kornova Investments Inc. He has more than 15 years of immigration consulting experience, with a presence in the key EB-5 markets of Vietnam, Korea and China. He has assisted more than 5,000 families to attain permanent residency status in the United States and Canada, and has raised more than $1.3 billion of immigration-related investment capital. He has successfully funded eight different EB-5 projects since 2011. Prior to working in the immigration field, Kang was the exclusive agent of a division of a Korean conglomerate for Canadian export products. He has traveled extensively with government-led trade missions to East Asia to foster business and cooperation.
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YOUNG-WOON AHN
Onnuri International Corp.
HQ: Republic of Korea
Founded: 1996
Young-woon Ahn has expertise in international finance and has more than 20 years of experience in various financial institutions such as the ANZ Bank and the Montreal Bank. He founded Onnuri International Corp. in 1996, and since then, he has customized immigration solutions to assist Korean investors, especially HNWIs, in obtaining citizenship and permanent residency in the United States and Europe. He was appointed as a member of the Self-Regulatory Review Committee in 2018 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is leading a culture of transparent immigration.
What new trends are you experiencing in the global RCBI industry in light of COVID-19?
During the first year of the pandemic, domestic RCBI market had almost shut down with the increase of EB-5 investment amounts and high numbers of Covid-19 patients in the United States and many European countries. However, lots of people are now recognizing the value of individual freedom and privacy after going through long periods of lockdown. It motivated some people to be interested in moving to the United States or Europe, where personal freedom holds more value.
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Winners who did not submit bios and interview answers:
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CAMLY DUONG
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DAVID CHEN
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EDDIE KWAN
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EDWARD SUN
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LARRY WANG
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LINDA HE
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PREEYA MALIK
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REG BAMFORD
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ROBERTO SPIGHEL
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WINNER XING
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