A US family secured Antigua & Barbuda CBI despite a prior criminal conviction, unlocking a pathway to retire in Portugal
Client Profile
The client contacted us in 2022 enquiring about our retirement program. They wished to retire overseas, with their first choice being Portugal — but they needed a different second citizenship first to be able to apply for their preferred retirement program in Portugal. Their choice of second citizenship was Antigua and Barbuda.
The client wanted to be able to have a Plan B, looking for a place with affordable healthcare while exploring a new culture.
Obstacles & Complications
Prior Criminal Conviction
One party to the application had a very old 'white collar' non-violent minor criminal conviction. This meant there were restrictions as to where they could make an application. With Portugal being one place they could not apply to, we looked elsewhere for them.
Had They Tried Other Advisors?
No, they opted for HLG straight away. The client had done their own research and concluded that they needed advice and assistance from a specialist immigration law firm to be able to secure a second citizenship.
Our Approach
In close consultation with the client, we opted to pursue Antigua & Barbuda CBI as the program has a very understanding policy when it comes to dealing with applications where the principal applicant or family member has an old minor conviction from 20+ years ago. Along with this, Antigua also has many tax advantages which were attractive to the client, as well as being a beautiful country in the Caribbean.
What Made Our Approach Different
HLG enjoys the challenge of thinking outside the box. We understood the ultimate goal of the client but this could not be achieved without a second citizenship. The client liked that we have an office in the Caribbean. They also preferred that we only work fixed-fee and as a law firm, we are bound by strict codes of confidentiality and ensure their investment funds would be protected.
How We Overcame the Complications
As the client and their family were not in a hurry to retire and relocate, a second citizenship in Antigua was attractive to them with a view of making an application to Portugal at a later date in the future.
Results
| Start date | December 2022 |
| Approval date | November 2024 |
| Processing time | 23 months |
| Investment | USD 100,000 |
| Family included | Spouse + 2 adult children |
| Citizenship obtained | Yes — entire family |
| Passports received | Yes |
| Issues resolved | Thinking outside the box by obtaining a second citizenship first, before applying for the desired Portuguese retirement program. |
| Real-world impact | Being citizens of Antigua means that in the future the client will be able to make an application to retire in Portugal — their initial and ultimate goal. The client has now visited Antigua with their family and truly enjoy the country, its culture and all that it has to offer. |
| Current status | Visiting Antigua and living in the U.S. while applying for a Portugal Golden Visa. |
| Still working with Harvey? | Yes — Portugal Golden Visa |
| Referred others? | No |
Client Testimonial
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Antigua, and wanted to thank you again for your help in making citizenship possible for us.Confidential Client — U.S. Family
I want to thank you personally for all of your help with Antiguan citizenship for our family. Your entire team has been wonderful to work with, and the passports and citizenship came at just the right time. Thank you again for all that you've done to facilitate and coordinate this process, and alleviate stress on our side.Confidential Client — U.S. Family
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With over 30 years of immigration experience, each of Harvey Law Group’s lawyers carefully studies each client’s needs, resources and determines the immigration solution that best aligns with our client’s vision and values.