Poor service & frustration continue at Department of Immigration
Nearly three months later it seems normal service has not returned and the public’s patience is wearing thin as visitors to the Department of Immigration continue to complain about the poor service, long lines and the frustration of losing sometimes a full day of work just to get an extension of time in the Territory while work permits are processed.
People on work permits feel ‘penalised’
“I will say, things need to change, I feel like people on permits are being penalised... We chose to live here, we want to help rebuild, in order to do so we need our permits in a timely fashion,” a frustrated visitor to the Department of Immigration on February 13, 2018 told our newsroom but asked that her name not be published as she feared being victimised “as I continue to wait for my permit to be approved.”
But according to the expatriate worker, she feels bad for the Immigration Department's employees as they are just trying to do their job.
“It seems as if they are severely understaffed.”
The woman further said there’s no reason for the situation at the Department of Immigration to persist. “It’s mainly people seeking a simple extension while they wait for their permit.”
Immigration needs help
Persons have also been expressing their dissatisfaction with the service at the Department of Immigration on social media, mainly the BVI Community Board on Facebook.
Some have even resorted to tagging the various legislators with Facebook accounts as they express their frustration, hoping for some intervention.
“Immigration needs help, there must be something that can be done to aid them. 8:30 A.M., all numbers given out for the day, well over 100 people stood on line for several hours, and were just told they won’t be seen today. Any way to have a person in charge outside? People pushing, shoving and cutting the line grabbing for numbers,” a Tracy Farrer wrote.
Her post prompted a series of responses, with many sharing their own experiences at the Department and criticising it for failing to urgently address the problems.
Others called on Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), who is responsible for the Department of Immigration, to intervene.
Community suggests solutions, remain hopeful
Meanwhile, a Darrel Hearne is of the opinion that the problem requires a simple fix. “90% of the people there are there for an extension because their work permits are not ready yet. There should be an officer seeing only these people. If it’s a first extension, and you have a valid receipt from Labour and a letter of employment, it should be an automatic extension stamp right there at the counter - in and out in five minutes; and seats for everyone. It’s not my fault my work permit isn’t ready three months down the line. Why should I spend a whole day at Immigration because of that? Or two or three days? Stamp my passport and let me go about my business as a tax-paying member of society whose job brings tourists and revenue to the territory. Every day I’m stuck in Immigration’s for yet another extension is a day I can’t work.”
Some persons suggested an appointment system for persons requesting extensions.
Others were of the view the staff needs to increase.
“I've said that all along, too, they need a second, maybe even a third office, and HIRE MORE STAFF TEMPORARILY! seems a no-brainer, high school kids after school processing/filing?,” a Leslie Cramer wrote.
A Whitney Haller noted that the problems have existed “for ages pre and post Irma. If Immigration and Labour have done nothing to try and help the situation and the Government has not stepped in then it tells us a whole lot. Is there not someone in this group of government officials who can come up with a solution? I still say - rubber stamp all renewals for the year if they have been here five or more years and there have been no previous issues.”
A Ted Reshetiloff said one of his staff has already visited the Department 3 times to get an extension while he awaits his work permit. “He’s worked in the BVI for nearly 10 years and is waiting on a [work permit] renewal that was submitted last year in July. Today he took a dinghy from Nanny Cay to town in the dark at 6:00 A.M. in 30kt winds and big seas. He got to immigration at 6:30 A.M. There was a fight amongst those trying to “get a number”. He didn’t get one. He will try again because he loves living here and working on this beautiful island. Hopefully one day something will improve in this system.”
Our newsroom was told one person turned up at the Department before 4:00 A.M. this morning, February 14, 2018.
At around 7:50 A.M. our roving camera passed at the Department and noticed close to 70 persons outside of the Department of Immigration office, located in the RJT Edifice on Wickham's Cay I, Tortola.
‘Doing the best that we can under the circumstances’- Ritter-Freeman
It was on November 22, 2017 that Ritter-Freeman had told this news site that the interim opening hours for the Department of Immigration are 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. to allow the Department to process as many persons as it can manually and then to take care of the back end processes in the afternoon.
The opening hours for the Department; however, has since returned to 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
“We know that the hours aren't ideal but we are doing the best that we can under the circumstances. To this end, I crave the public's indulgence as we seek to deliver professional services to the public,” Ritter-Freeman had said in November.
Nearly three months after; however, the lines at the Department of Immigration are still long and close to 100 persons on a daily basis are unable to get service, even after showing up nearly three hours before the Department opens for business.
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39 Responses to “Poor service & frustration continue at Department of Immigration”
Facts:
1. A baby born in the BVI where parents are on work permit must get permission to stay in the BVI. So, in this line, we have women who gave birth days or weeks ago waiting to get time for their BVI born child, which is not a citizen.
2. The same set of persons above, unless they have applied for Registration as an OTC, have to go to immigration every year to get their annual time.
3. Persons exempted from work permit still need to get immigration stamp.
4. Renewal of work permits is annual
So, the line is filled with all types. Its about what is mandatory and what is not
Radical!
The people seeking service are treated as if they are begging a favor. They hold their documents and then can't find them. The stories are endless. I hear them all the time.
They are talked down too and are belittled. As a BVIlander, I think it's time the government seriously take a look at what is really wrong. These people are no different to our great grand parents and our parents who had to leave Tortola to work somewhere else to make a living.
Come on man, get the staff some training!!!!
I'm from here and it's an embarrassment to put people through this. We are all one Caribbean people and we need to look out for each other's interest and be more caring and sensitive. I think don't subscribe to the attitude that if you don't like it leave. But we are all entitled to our opinions.
I read the article, instead of having people come to the Department let them call in to make an appointments and when they reach 100 that ends it for that day. This can be done until things get rectify