Client story
Client story
Where they started
Our client—a Russian entrepreneur—was obtaining Saint Kitts citizenship and wanted to include his younger brother, whom he was supporting, in the application. He had heard somewhere that Caribbean programs permit siblings, and was confident this program did as well.
Why the standard route did not work
It was important to establish the facts honestly from the outset, which we did. Each program has its own set of eligible family members, and Saint Kitts' set does not include siblings. The application may include a spouse, children (generally up to age 30 if financially dependent), and parents or grandparents aged 55 or older with their support—but not siblings. Promising to "include the brother" would have been outright dishonest: Saint Kitts' strict vetting would not allow it, and attempting to misrepresent a brother as another family member would constitute fraud.
What BRIDGES had to solve
The source of the misconception is understandable: in several other Caribbean programs, siblings are indeed permitted (for example, in Grenada, Antigua, and Dominica—subject to certain conditions). People therefore apply this rule to Saint Kitts as well, but incorrectly. However, "cannot include as sibling" does not mean "brother has no passport." A lawful path exists: the brother submits his own separate application as an independent principal applicant—and both obtain citizenship, simply through two applications. If the family had considered it essential to have a single joint file with the brother, we would have honestly shown them programs that do permit siblings. We laid out the options without embellishment, and the client chose a separate application for his brother.
Why a standard answer would not do
At BRIDGES, the client arrived with a misconception and left with the truth and a result: he understood that Saint Kitts does not include siblings, and he obtained a passport for his brother through lawful means—a separate application.
I was certain I would include my younger brother in my Saint Kitts application—I had heard this is possible in the Caribbean. Anna told me frankly: Saint Kitts specifically does not include siblings; other programs do, but this one does not, and misrepresenting a brother as another relative is not permitted—the vetting is strict. But there is no dead end: my brother submitted his own separate application as the principal applicant, and we both obtained passports. I appreciate that I was told the truth about family composition right away, rather than being promised something impossible and then let down later.
