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Bill defining pathway to Residency & Belongership passes in HoA

- Immigration & Passport Amendment Bill, 2024, passed with amendments on May 24, 2024
The Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill, 2024, designed to establish a clear pathway to Residency and Belongership status in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) was passed with amendments in the House of Assembly (HoA) on Friday, May 24, 2024. Photo: VINO/File
According to the Bill brought to the HoA by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), applicants must be ordinarily resident in the Territory for at least 10 years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence. To become eligible to apply for Belonger Status, an applicant must be ordinarily a resident in the Territory for at least 20 years. Photo: YouTube
According to the Bill brought to the HoA by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), applicants must be ordinarily resident in the Territory for at least 10 years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence. To become eligible to apply for Belonger Status, an applicant must be ordinarily a resident in the Territory for at least 20 years. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill, 2024, designed to establish a clear pathway to Residency and Belongership status in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) was passed with amendments in the House of Assembly (HoA) on Friday, May 24, 2024.

The Bill addresses issues including the length of time required for being eligible for Residence and Belonger status, the establishment of guidelines and criteria governing the award of status by Cabinet and the process for determining quotas and an appeals process.  Other issues addressed include children’s path to residence status and children born in the VI to Non-Belonger parents.

According to the Bill brought to the HoA by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), applicants must be ordinarily resident in the Territory for at least 10 years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence. To become eligible to apply for Belonger Status, an applicant must be ordinarily a resident in the Territory for at least 20 years.

‘10 years goes by in a blink of an eye’- Premier

The proposal is a carbon copy of the policy that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) had flagged as being unlawful, as the Government policy only allowed persons to apply for Belonger status after living in the VI for more than 20 years; however, the current law stipulates that persons can apply for this status after residing in the Territory for more than 10 years.

“While some persons might think it’s a high threshold, we know that the Virgin Islands is a small place, and 10 years goes by in a blink of an eye,” he said. “And we need [persons] to establish a certain amount of time to get to know the territory — a certain amount of time to establish yourself,” Premier Wheatley stated in defending the 20-year requirement.

Opposition Leader Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) was also in support of the 20-year requirement.

“The premier mentioned removing the 10, [which was] a right, to 20, which was a policy for when I used to sit over there,” Mr Skelton said. “You’re making it more legal, which is good.”

The Bill has to be now assented to by the Governor before it becomes law.

More details to follow.

17 Responses to “Bill defining pathway to Residency & Belongership passes in HoA”

  • Maria Louisa Varlack (30/05/2024, 07:37) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    can i have full uk citizenship and full british citizenship and nationality? can i have a British Passport for the United Kingdom Northern Ireland and British Territories.
    • @Maria Louisa Varlack (30/05/2024, 09:24) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      The short answer is, yes.
    • @maria lousia warlock (30/05/2024, 10:27) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      yes you can if your are a BVIslander just apply
    • Common Sense (30/05/2024, 11:18) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      How would you feel if you had to live in those territories for 20 years to become a British citizen, that’s what the BVI is proposing for British citizens.
  • Well (30/05/2024, 07:56) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Can you now start processing some of these applications? This been going on for 10 years now...
  • lodger (30/05/2024, 08:07) Like (30) Dislike (32) Reply
    It should have been 30 years
  • resident (30/05/2024, 08:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i know where they too that first picture from
  • NB (30/05/2024, 09:30) Like (29) Dislike (16) Reply
    Ummmm, ayo sitting in the House of Assembly and using phrases like 'more legal' wah the heck is more legal? Struupes. 10 years is a long time and in this case would be enough time for someone to prove their loyalty and commitment to the Virgin Islands. Ayo just vindictive, but carry on. Here is a little fact, the country is falling apart and the elected officials are not doing anything to make this paradise what it should be. Yes, BVI is a Paradise, and the elected officials? PARASITES!
  • annudda2cents (30/05/2024, 10:07) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    "making it more legal". very astounding when educated persons actually say phrases such as these.
  • Stop giving away our country please (30/05/2024, 10:09) Like (15) Dislike (19) Reply
    After 7 years send them out and let them start over
    • jack (30/05/2024, 11:24) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
      At the age if 7 your parents should have sent you to get a job,if you didn't return with a salary there wouldn't be any food.
    • @stop giving away our country (30/05/2024, 14:18) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      7 years gone by and you still don't know who your real parents are...sickening!!!
  • ................................. (30/05/2024, 13:43) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    The island people along with funny man going take over us
  • This reminds me (31/05/2024, 06:52) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Of that scripture when Jacob worked 7 years for his prize and his father-in-law changed the agreement at the end of the 7 years and double it and told him work 7 more years to get it. Thank God the pass to heaven is free
  • loose (31/05/2024, 20:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This territory to loose and to soft. Everybody want to bring their entire family here and some even want thelocals to lie to immigration for them to bring their family and the locals knows well thst they dont have a proper lace to shelter them. How much more pressure is our territory, people and government should take. Housing is a serious problem in the territory. The infrastructure of the territory is very fragile. People open your eyes crime will continue to increase no work no money no value no nothing. Stay awake BVI invaders are coming keep watch.
  • voice (05/06/2024, 13:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You will still have to prove after 20 years that you belong here. That is almost all of your life spent giving service to a place that dislikes your existence. In short it is not worth the effort.


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