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New immigration bill to bring clarity to VI Residency & Belonger status

Called the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2024, the bill also brings clarity regarding the length of tenure in the Territory for the grant of status and was accompanied by the revised Belonger and Residence Status Policy for VI tabled during the Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on May 2, 2024. Photo: Youtube/File
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, Mr. Joseph Smith Abbott said, the provisions in the Bill address the periods of being ordinarily resident in the Territory to be considered for the grants of residence and Belonger status. Photo: VINO/File
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, Mr. Joseph Smith Abbott said, the provisions in the Bill address the periods of being ordinarily resident in the Territory to be considered for the grants of residence and Belonger status. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The updated Immigration Bill is in response to Recommendation B33 of the Commission of Inquiry, which identified the need for clear and published guidance for the consideration of applications for residence and Belonger status in the Virgin Islands (VI) has seen its first reading in the House of Assembly (HoA).

Called the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2024, the bill also brings clarity regarding the length of tenure in the Territory for the grant of status and was accompanied by the revised Belonger and Residence Status Policy for VI tabled during the Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on May 2, 2024.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, Mr. Joseph Smith Abbott said the provisions in the Bill address the periods of being ordinarily resident in the Territory to be considered for the grants of residence and Belonger status.

He said it enshrines the policy directives resulting from the wide consultation, which preceded the completion and adoption of the policy where persons are encouraged to pay keen attention to the amendments to the principal Act.

More to be addressed via bill 

The Bill seeks to address 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 BVI to Non-Belonger parents.

It outlines the responsibilities of the various entities to gather and analyse data on the population, demographic trends, labour market conditions, and housing availability; defining categories of residence certificates and the eligibility criteria and qualifications for residence certificates.

The Bill further sets out the process for engaging and carrying out stakeholder consultations to ensure transparency in any quota-setting activities, as well as assessing the potential economic and social impact of residence or Belonger certificates. 

Persons are being encouraged to read and review the Immigration and Passport Act and the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act made available on the website of the government information service.

As part of the process, the Board of Immigration will be responsible for recommending annual immigration quotas for residence or Belonger certificates to Cabinet in accordance with the quota-setting objectives and the capacity of the Territory.

11 Responses to “New immigration bill to bring clarity to VI Residency & Belonger status”

  • Native Tongue (11/05/2024, 13:43) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    There will still be abuse of these processes for some of these people. Depending on who you know. Going no where fast.
    • I wrote The Gov. (11/05/2024, 19:12) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      I am no happy with my situation. Complain to a politician about the disrespect and bad service I am getting from those people dealing in immigration dealing with status, he said to me ".Complain to the Governor that is his Civil service he got them so". I did just that...10 yrs my application in. I go I call all I get is we will call you back..a brush off call that i never get. Something needs to change..its a leadership issue. Hope the Governor upon receiving my complain will address it. I am certain they are a lot more like me.
  • Lb (11/05/2024, 14:58) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Politics is not a sport for the faint-hearted or those seeking instant gratification.
  • Chk (11/05/2024, 19:00) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Bank statements of. The applicants last 10 years first it’ll help determine who really Considered BVI their home
  • Get White Folks. (11/05/2024, 19:07) Like (8) Dislike (10) Reply
    Black people are too hateful, envious, spiteful and evil against their own blacks. Say what you all want. White people don't care who you are once you meet the criteria they awarding you... How I pray Britain can take over this place...Go by the office to enquire about my status, they will call me with the info. A month now still waiting on that call...
    • hm (13/05/2024, 11:00) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Why u wanna be tortolian and dont like us just make the money and go home
  • Just wondering (12/05/2024, 12:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some have been here over 10 yrs already without residency status. The process takes way longer than a year and the new policy says that belongership is only after 10 years of obtaining residency so that means that for some will take over 25/30 yrs to be a belonger... I do believe belongership should be after 20yrs after arrival... Let's see how they will be dealing with these situations
  • @I Wrote The Gov. & Get White Folks (12/05/2024, 13:08) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    What you wrote and your views are great examples of why you are still waiting.
  • Best wishes (12/05/2024, 20:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what they government doing with the business that is deducting SS AND NHI/ INLAND REVENUE and not turn it in.
  • An Aside (13/05/2024, 21:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    You and others should take stock and ask yourselves why the BVIas well as other places you desire are not eager to grant your wish. Are you an asset or are you and have you and/or your fellow countrymen been a financial and social liability to the BVI. You are salaried and is compensated for services rendered. As a result,your quality of life and others are improved. Not so, the BVI and its people. Those of you who have been here for awhile ,can attest in all honesty the degraded quality of life as a result. Look inward. The mere fact that these islands are now manned by policemen of foreign countries for the coralling of its Black inhabitants is disgraceful degrading and insulting. Our
    dignity squashed but u and others could never understand because such is norm , you and your culture. Your presence has dimmed our glorious sunsets and sunrise of a ZERO crime daily life environment We welcome manypeoples,varied fruit trees are transplanted in this garden. Our regret is understandably the consistency of blows to our consciousness by the surplus of low hanging fruits as we attempt to live in the comforting country of our birth, gifted by the toil and sweat of our ancestors.





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