What happens when a country shuts down every business immigration pathway precisely at the moment it needs entrepreneurs the most?

Canada is staring down a $2 trillion crisis. With 75% of Canada’s 1.2 million small business owners reportedly planning to exit within the next decade, Canada is facing a succession crisis. Whilst the solution seems obvious to attract new entrepreneurial talent to the country, Canada has instead systematically dismantled almost every route for them to enter.

In this episode of Global Investment Voice, immigration expert Sam Bayat joins our host Mona Shah to explore the shocking closure, suspension, and redrafting of major federal business immigration programmes in Canada, at precisely the moment Canada needs entrepreneurs the most.

The Federal Investor Programme? Terminated in 2014 after 70,000 fraudulent applications overwhelmed the system. Quebec's investor option? Reduced to single-digit applications after introducing mandatory B2 French proficiency. The innovative Start-Up Visa that once promised so much? Shut down in late 2025 under the weight of 42,000 applications and 35-year processing times.

Sam discusses the systemic failures which ended these programmes, such as paper startups and widespread abuse of the system with virtually non-existent enforcement. Perhaps most damning is the maths. Canada needs 100,000 entrepreneurs in the next 20 years, but their current intake now is merely 500.

Find out which pathways still exist for serious investors in 2026, what created the growing gap between political rhetoric and economic reality and whether the perfect storm of retiring Canadian business owners alongside closed immigration routes is disastrous or an unexpected opportunity.

It’s fair to say easy immigration to Canada is over. But has a more strategic game just begun?

What happens when a G7 leader accidentally makes the case for citizenship and residency by investment on the world’s biggest stage?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made an unexpected declaration, stating the end of the American-led world order at Davos 2026. In doing so, he unknowingly provided the framework to validate what millions of globally mobile individuals have known all along. Multiple citizenships are not divided loyalties, but rather a means of survival, through an insurance policy.

In this explorative episode of Global Investment Voice, host Mona Shah reunites with Iliana Oris Valiente, who was in Davos at the time of Carney’s bombshell speech. Together, they unpack what this means for RCBI programmes across the globe, from the Americas to Europe and beyond.

You’ll discover the reason why Carney’s restructuring of sovereignty highlights second citizenship as a necessity and hear tell-all statistics from Henley & Partners’ 2026 Global Mobility Report, revealing Canada and the UK are dropping in mobility rankings. The conversation explores the evolution of citizenship from a loyalty pledge to a portfolio of strategic rights.

From AI’s disruption of the nature of work to the explosive rise of what Iliana has coined “The Flexible Class,” we connect the dots between geopolitics, investment migration, and your family’s freedom strategy. So, whether you’re considering future-proofing your family’s global options or learning more about Davos, this episode reveals why 2026 may be remembered as when multiple citizenships became a strategic necessity.

The world order has shifted. But the real question is: Has your citizenship strategy kept pace?

What if the future of global migration and citizenship wasn’t about uprooting your life from one place to another, but about multiplying it?

Have you ever thought about calling more than one country home?

Welcome to the reality of a Globally Mobile Individual. A rapidly growing group of entrepreneurs, remote workers, digital nomads, and retirees who aren’t restricted by borders or traditional migration routes. A community that values the flexibility to build their own lives focused on their own choices and needs.

In this episode of Global Investment Voice, we sit down with Iliana Oris Valiente, founder of The Flexible Class to further explore this growing community of global citizens. We discuss the ins and outs of who is driving this movement and what they are really chasing: better climate, lifestyle or freedom to create a life across continents.

Iliana uncovers the practical considerations of joining this community, from real estate to your children's education, we discuss the full works. She also reveals how her platform, The Flexible Class, is supporting these unique individuals in managing cross-border finances, securing golden visas, global health coverage, and lots more.

And, of course, we discuss locations. The world really is your oyster when you’re part of the flexible class.

So, whether you're exploring second citizenship, dreaming of spreading your life across the continents, a remote worker craving some sunshine, or simply curious about global citizenship, this episode offers a whistle-stop tour into the migration revolution. You certainly don’t want to miss this one.

Happy New Year! As 2026 begins and a year of heightened uncertainty in U.S. immigration comes to a close, Mona and Rebecca discuss what the changed landscape may mean for investors heading into the new year. Will we see the sun set on the EB-5 program, replaced by Trump’s so-called fast and flexible Gold Cards? All is revealed in our analysis of what to expect in 2026.

We revisit a year defined by disruption. The return of Trump-era immigration policies, categorized by renewed travel bans and tighter restrictions, collided with a USCIS adjudication crisis in which requests for evidence and denials reached historic highs. Together, these forces reshaped the EB-5 landscape, driving investor caution. Yet, it was not all bad news. Game changing legal developments, including the landmark ruling in Battineni v. Mayorkas, began to recalibrate source of funds expectations, pushing back unreasonable document demands and offering much needed clarity for attorneys and investors alike.

This episode also explores the growing ‘American Exodus’ as record numbers of U.S. citizens seek second passports, foreign residency and global ‘plan B’ options amid political and economical uncertainty. So, whether you’re weighing EB-5 against the Gold Card, navigating USCIS scrutiny, or exploring global ‘plan B’ options, tune in for the insight and foresight you need to navigate 2026 with confidence.

"No taxation without representation!" One of the rallying cries of the American Revolution--but here's the twist: the reverse is also true!

What if you could keep your blue passport, stay on American soil, and legally reduce your tax bill by 90% or more? Sounds too good to be true, right? Welcome to Puerto Rico.

The U.S. territory that most Americans overlook is quietly becoming a magnet for savvy entrepreneurs, crypto millionaires, and anyone tired of writing massive checks to the IRS. Residents don't get to vote in federal elections, but in exchange? Some of the most jaw-dropping tax incentives you'll find anywhere in the world.

Developer and longtime Puerto Rico resident Angus Beavers sits down with Mona and Rebecca to pull back the curtain on what life is really like after making the move. The money you'll save. The lifestyle you'll gain. The mistakes people make. The surprises nobody tells you about.

Whether you're already packing your bags or just wondering if there's a better way than hemorrhaging money to Uncle Sam every April, this episode will change how you think about taxes, citizenship, and what's actually possible.

Ready to explore the 4% solution?

Isolation or Paradise? New Zealand is famous for its stunning landscapes and has a reputation for a very high quality of life. However, for those considering a move, their residency through investment program is one of the most expensive--almost three million (US) dollars. So, when it comes down to it, what does one get for that price? Is everything that expensive? Does the remoteness get lonely for new immigrants, or is it a sanctuary from the chaos around the world? Still connected, but at a safe distance!

Mona and Rebecca are out to find the truth! Native New Zealander Mischa Mannix joins to discuss the pros and cons of the Kiwi lifestyle.

"Denied" Part 1:

As the Trump Administration takes a firm hold of all immigration, this is a word that is becoming all too common. Sadly, it's becoming a more common story. A person applies for EB-5. They listen to their lawyer, they follow all the rules, and they patiently wait for their conditional green card. Then, years pass. They get a job, buy a home, and build a life. They pay their taxes and become part of their community. However, at the final stage of the process, despite doing everything right, they get a denial. Worse, they get a notice to appear before an immigration judge. Why? And what can they do?

Unfortunately, more and more people are asking those questions. Why is USCIS issuing more Notices to Appear? How worried should people be? Has there been any success fighting these? Mona and Rebecca sit down with John Pratt to tackle the complicated thorny topic of denials in the final stretch of the EB-5 process.

Funding a Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal has jumped in popularity. The European nation has inarguably been one of the most popular golden visa programs to pursue. While buying a house no longer gets one residency, thousands are still choosing to make the country their home.

For folk from the United States, there is an opportunity to use 401K and Retirement funds to actually fund a golden visa to Portugal. What are the options or alternatives to using retirement funds for folk from other countries? Are there any tax benefits?

Mona and Rebecca sit down with Tiago Gali Macdeo to discuss funding options as well as to why Portugal continues to draw so many applicants from the United States and around the world. What challenges can one expect to face? And does the country really live up to all that hype?