Following Dominica, St. Kitts, and Nevis, Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) has announced that starting September 1, 2023, it will be conducting personal interviews for all citizenship applicants as a mandatory prerequisite to obtaining citizenship.

The measure comes a few months after representatives from the United States and the Caribbean met to discuss standards for CBI programs and the main points that they want all jurisdictions to comply with. All Caribbean countries providing citizenship through investment programs are likely to enact similar measures as per an agreement with the US earlier this year, which stipulated adding personal interviews and other measures to tighten the program’s due diligence and risk mitigation.

Another meeting between leaders of Caribbean countries and EU representatives was held in Brussels, where the European Union announced several commands for countries providing CBI programs. These measures ensure the general safety of European countries by monitoring the process of obtaining second passports that grant visa-free entry to the region.

Benefits of mandatory interviews

The introduction of mandatory interviews as a prerequisite for obtaining citizenship has several benefits. Here are some possible advantages of this decision:

Enhanced due diligence

Conducting interviews as part of the citizenship application process allows immigration authorities to engage directly with applicants and provides an opportunity to evaluate and assess the applicant’s background, intentions, and suitability for citizenship. This helps strengthen the due diligence process, ensuring that only individuals who meet the necessary criteria and are of good character are granted citizenship.

Fraud Prevention

Interviews can play a role in detecting and preventing activities associated with citizenship applications. When officials conduct face-to-face interviews, they gain insights, verify the authenticity of documents, and evaluate the credibility of applicants. This helps reduce the risks of identity fraud, misrepresentation, or any other deceptive practices.

Better communication

Given that interviews are essentially targeted conversations with a give-and-take component, they will improve communication between international CBI agents and the CIU. The CIU representatives will make their demands known during interviews, and CBI agents can have a direct conversation with their customers to better grasp the circumstances. This direct communication with applicants opens the door for better communication between the international agent and the CIUs.

Concerns for National Security

The interview process enables authorities to assess factors related to security. By examining an applicant’s background, travel history, and possible affiliations, officials can make informed decisions about granting or denying citizenship. This ensures that the country’s security interests are safeguarded and prevents individuals who may pose a threat from obtaining citizenship.

Faster process

When dealing with paperwork alone, CIU officials only have a still image of the applicant, so they must decide how to fill in any gaps through email conversation. Having interviews speeds up problem-solving. In certain extreme circumstances, this rigorous method may lead to officers requesting more information once or twice, delaying the entire process, or it may even end in a letter of intent to deny. An interview streamlines this process because CIU officers can address any issues they may have with the clients and their agents directly rather than having to communicate back and forth via email. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and speeds up the process.

Integration and cultural compatibility

Interviews provide an opportunity to gauge an applicant’s commitment to integrating into the Caribbean’s society and culture. Through conversations with applicants, officials can assess their understanding of the country, its values, and their willingness to make contributions to the community. This fosters a sense of belonging and promotes cohesion.

Enhancing Citizenship Quality

By making interviews mandatory, Caribbean countries have the potential to enhance the quality of their citizenship programs. Interacting directly with applicants enables an assessment and selection process, guaranteeing that those who are granted citizenship are truly dedicated to enhancing the nation’s progress and well-being.

CBI program’s updates

St. Kitts and Nevis has already updated the terms of its citizenship program. For instance, the investment thresholds were increased, mandatory interviews were introduced, due diligence checks were doubled, and the requirements for dependents were toughened.

Dominica now conducts mandatory interviews with applicants applying for citizenship. Antigua and Barbuda reintroduced the request to stay in the country for 5 days after receiving the passport. Investors can still obtain second citizenship by investment without interviews in most countries; no third-party due diligence check is needed, and the minimum investment amount is $100,000.