Globevisa CEO Henry interviewed by CNA

Sept. 20th, 2023–Globevisa Group, the largest immigration company in the world, was interviewed today by CNA today. Our CEO Henry Fan shared his very inspiring and touching story about his family and how Globevisa is helping clients from all over the world to become a global citizen.

 

 

Interviewer: Tell us more about your childhood and own experience, Henry – we understand you had humble beginnings?

Henry: I came from an ordinary family. During my upbringing, it was difficult for my family to make ends meet. As the only son with good academic performance, my parents decided to pay for me tuition, instead of paying for my two elder sisters. From my childhood, I got a sense of sympathy towards others, as I had my lessons already. I also have a positive state of mind because I always think no matter how bad the situation is, it will not be worse than what I had experienced.

Interviewer: In your experience, what are the main reasons why people seek to move – be it within the same country or to another country altogether?

Henry: People move for a variety of reasons, but some common motivations include seeking better education, safety, career prospects, or simply a higher quality of life. These are fundamental desires that people all over the world share, and they can be particularly challenging to achieve in certain regions. It’s not about being ungrateful for one’s home country but rather about pursuing opportunities and fulfilling aspirations. With easier traveling after the pandemic and professional service providers like Globevisa, being a global citizen is something achievable and workable.

Interviewer: When people migrate, do they plan to root in the new country or are they taking the place as temporary? what is the sense you get from the people you are interacting with?

Henry: About five years ago, majority of our clients were seeking for a place to live for the rest of their lives, by when Canada, Australia, US and UK were the most popular destination countries. But now the demands and trends become more diversified. Taking Europe as an example, many countries like Portugal, Spain and Ireland are now offering a nomad visa ( also called remote working visa) allowing applicants to have a valid visa to work for a foreign company but live in Europe. Those kinds of visas provide an opportunity to “test the water first” before making a big decision to relocate the family.

Related programs mentioned above:

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Interviewer: What is your view about the industry potential and future? Are you seeing an increasing demand?

Henry: Definitely. Globevisa has adapted the “supermarket model” to provide all options to clients, and that is why we are also called “Amazon in migration business”. We are seeing clients from all over the worldThe Uniqueness of Globevisa is that we are not limiting ourselves by providing legal service only, but presenting all possible options and guiding clients in picking up the most suitable one — A variety of products: more than 300 immigration programs covering 40+ countries, makes us capable of that.A typical story is: A friend of mine in Hong Kong once asked me which is the best country to relocate for a better education of his ten-year-old daughter, in this case, I had a bunch of options to present and helped him in comparing the pros and cons for each option. For example, Thailand has a long term visa option upon a donation and offers high quality international schools at quite a low cost; Singapore is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese origin for its bi-lingual atmosphere and outstanding education performance; UK is attracting top talents and entrepreneurs also, with some best Universities to plan the future for; even South Korea has a route of residence by purchasing a property of half million dollar. And we will discuss further more about his family plan, business expansion, tax declaration, and education path for the daughter, then help my friend to make the right decision.

Related programs mentioned above:

Thailand Long-term Resident Visa

Singapore programs

South Korea Real Estate Immigrant Investor Scheme

Interviewer: Looks like you and your team has so much knowledge of all visa options and categories what your clients may qualify for, and a sense of which one with an easier entry and higher approval rate, right?

Henry: The most important and challenging part of our business is to truely and deeply understand clients’ story and what they are really seeking for. Finding out their real concern is the first and essential step to give the best solution.

Interviewer: Tell us more about the Resident and Citizen By Investment (RCBI) industry and how it works? What led you down this path to become an entrepreneur in the Resident and Citizen By Investment (RCBI) space?

Henry: The RCBI industry involves countries offering residency or citizenship to individuals in exchange for specific investments. This can include real estate, job creation, or contributions to the country’s development. I entered this field by accident. When I graduated from university, I wanted to get a job desperately and the first job offer I received was from that immigration agency. So I took the job offer and started working as a document assistant for a Canadian investment immigration firm. It was intense as I left the office at 8-9 pm every night, and always had to work till midnight. In those crazy days when we had a deadline or something urgent, I even had only one hour of sleep in three days. 

I was responsible for clients during document processing, and they were always more willing to tell me their story. In the profession of investment immigration, this is a crucial part for us to explain how our clients earn their money legitimately. I had to talk to every one of my clients for ten to twenty hours to fully understand their business and make an accountable statement on their source of income.

I had about 500 interviews with all these successful entrepreneurs which really brought me to a different level. It had an effect on how I saw the world, and enriched my commercial knowledge.

Interviewer: What are some important factors to ensure people can settle into their new chosen country well?

Henry: Successful integration into a new country involves several factors. Language proficiency, cultural understanding, and access to essential services are critical. Additionally, having a support network, whether through family or community, can greatly facilitate the transition. We provide guidance on these aspects to help individuals and families adapt and thrive in their new environment.

Interviewer: You say on your LinkedIn profile that you hope that “one day we can all feel like citizens of the world and not just where we were born” – tell us more about the thinking behind this?

Henry: The idea came from my personal life experience. Born and raised in a humble family in a small village in China, it was my blessing to have 37 offices now all over the world, allowing me to travel easily and run our business globally.

My ideal life is to spend one month in at least two offices per year, so I can have a better understanding of local market, local clients, and local colleagues. This is my version of “Dreams come true”. Global citizenship life style is what I really want to share with my partners and clients.

As our CEO’s story always motivates us all Globevisa people, hopefully there is something all the audience and clients finds interesting and inspiring.