Work permit exemptions by marriage will be granted for 6 years max- Cabinet
With effect from August 23, 2021, and under the revised work permit exemption policy of the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI), an approved work permit exemption by marriage will be for a fixed period of six (6) years maximum, according to details of the post-meeting statement of the Cabinet meeting of August 18, 2021.
Cabinet further encouraged that at year five (5), an application for Belonger by Marriage should be made with the Immigration Department by the individual granted a work permit exemption by marriage.
To apply, persons will also need a letter of intent from a local employer for an applicant, who is currently unemployed and living in the Territory as a dependent of the spouse.
No work permits for spouse outside of VI
In addition, Cabinet has warned that applications from spouses residing outside of the Territory will be denied and noted that the marriage category of work permit exemption will be linked to a specific employer.
“Any change in employer/employment, prior to the expiration of the exemption, will result in the exemption being automatically cancelled,” the statement noted.
If a married couple is divorced, legally separated or residing outside of the Territory, as per Section 16(9) of the Immigration and Passport Act, for over 90 days without previous permission, the awarded exemption is to be considered revoked, Cabinet said.
However, the revised policy provides for work permit exemptions that will be retained, if the holder has at any time, obtained a protection order against their spouse.
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21 Responses to “Work permit exemptions by marriage will be granted for 6 years max- Cabinet”
It give unscrupulous employers ( of whom there are lots in BVI ) the opportunity to exploit and underpay their workers
And it greatly hinders the recruitment of talented labor by potential alternative employers and thus hinders the economic development of the country.
It needs a complete rethink by someone with a brain for a change and not knee jerk protectionism.
And of coursr,course, is always the option to return or to stay in your home country.
Firstly, some persons who were residing in the territory for many years will either continue to pay their work permits or alternatively decide to relocate to either their home land or some other jurisdiction. What ever options they choose will result in a decline in work permit fees and other related fees. This will have a domino effect generally.
Your concern about some relocating to elsewhere creating a decline in work permit fees....from my observation,there is no shortage of those wanting to migrate to the VI, so I am in disagreement that the exit of some would create s financial loss forr the coffers of the Immigratoon dept. Am I missing something,?
If you think some foreigners bring good things and are worth keeping here, think of how few top professionals actually settle down, buy or build a house and make the VI their home? Rather those people tend to come and go all the time. You might ask yourself if the society is better off or worse off for the resulting transience. You could compare Cayman Islands where professionals generally settle down to Virgin Islands where they generally don't and consider which is the better situation.
Unfortunately, nuance isn't something the VI does. Everyone in the same bucket please!
The changes of immigration and labour laws in the VI is for the protection of the people, not many VI people are working and most who are here now from the Caribbean countries are the expats who are married or living with a VI person. Most of the construction and restaurant expat has left the territory. How can I find out how many person who were working in the VI leave the island since Irma?
I believe the people should go home, do not make the VI your home the laws will continue to change to oppress those who think there is something they can get. There are people who has worked five and six months and are not getting their full salary. The manager /owners are holding on the idea that some of them will have to leave without their money, the advantage is that they will win, while holding on to the salary of those who have to go, telling them that they are also waiting on the people to pay on the project. which most of the time is a lie.