Preparation for Questrade [Face-to-Face] VOI

Who are Questrade Inc.?

If you have not yet heard of Questrade, we recommend you visit their website here.

Why does the Questrade Verification of Identity need to be Face-to-Face?

Canadian legislation requires holders of overseas accounts opened by non-residents to have their identity verified face-to-face by a foreign lawyer.

You will be asked? 

Q: Are you a PEP or Head of International Organization, or are you a family member or close associate to a PEP or HIO?

If you confirm that you are, or are a family member, or close associate of a foreign politically exposed person, this will be not noted on the paperwork sent to Questrade Inc. for their records.

What is a PEP? or a HIO?

Politically exposed person, or a “PEP”

⚖️ Means a person who holds or has held one of the following offices or positions in or on behalf of a foreign state: 

➲ Head of state or head of government; 

➲ Member of the executive council of government or member of a legislature; 

➲ Deputy minister or equivalent rank; 

➲ Ambassador, or attaché or counsellor of an ambassador; 

➲ Military officer with a rank of general or above; 

➲ President of a state-owned company or a state-owned bank; 

➲ Head of a government agency; 

➲ Judge of a supreme court, constitutional court or other court of last resort; or 

➲ Leader or president of a political party represented in a legislature. 

These persons are PEPs regardless of citizenship, residence status or birth place. 

Head of an International Organization, or “HIO”

⚖️ The head of an international organization is a person who is either: 

1️⃣ The head of an international organization established by the governments of states; or 

2️⃣ The head of an institution established by an international organization. 

Family member of PEP or HIO includes:

➲ Their spouse or common-law partner; 

➲ Their child; 

➲ Their mother or father; 

➲ The mother or father of their spouse or common-law partner; and 

➲ A child of their mother or father (sibling). 

Close Associate of PEP or HIO?

⚖️ Some examples of a close association for personal or business reasons include a person who is: 

➲ Business partners with, or who beneficially owns or controls a business with, a PEP or HIO; 

➲ In a romantic relationship with a PEP or HIO, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend or mistress; 

➲ Involved in financial transactions with a PEP or a HIO; 

➲ A prominent member of the same political party or union as a PEP or HIO; 

➲ Serving as a member of the same board as a PEP or HIO; or 

➲ Closely carrying out charitable works with a PEP or HIO.

What background Identity Paperwork is required?

You will need to bring the originals of your Identity paperwork [100 Points of ID] and email us full-colour scanned copies well ahead of your in-person VOI appointment:

✅ Passport - Photo Page;

✅ Driver's Licence (both sides); and

✅ Utility Bill, etc. confirming your current address details.

How can we keep your Identity Paperwork safe?

Optional: You can request us to send you an email using our military-grade email encryption service: Trustifi

You can safely + securely reply to us using Trustifi attaching full-colour scanned copies of your identity documents.

There is no additional charge for using this service.

Embedded Lawyer-Logic™

This legal document uses Embedded Lawyer-Logic™ which automatically adapts to understand your requirements and collect your information.

The required background paperwork that needs to be attested and sent to Questrade Inc. is automatically prepared based on the responses you provide.

Last Step: Book your in-person VOI

For VOI's in:

⚖️ Sydney ➲ We can meet at your choice of our 2 co-working spaces [scroll to bottom of our this page or click this link];

⚖️ Brisbane ➲ Ancora Lawyers;

⚖️ Auckland ➲ Anthony Harper [NZ]; or

⚖️ Elsewhere ➲ We recommend you contact us as early as possible, as we may need to establish a new collaboration with a local law firm and it will take time to co-ordinate this with Questrade Inc.

Important: Blue Ocean Law Group℠ are an authorised agent of Questrade Inc. as well as an affiliate and we may receive a small commission if you use our links to access Questrade Inc. and then proceed to open an account.

Credits:

This legal document (incl. Embedded Lawyer-Logic™) was designed, developed + tested by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.

Social Media Sharing Image courtesy of Questrade‍