Are BVIslanders being denied entry to the US again?
There are reports that a number of BVIslanders who’ve applied for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) Visa Waiver in recent months, have been denied by the United States.
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows citizens from jurisdictions like the BVI to enjoy travel to the United States for business or tourism without a visa.
But according to Damion Grange, host of the Talking Points radio show, there are reports that a record number of BVIslanders who hold UK passports have been denied ESTAs by the United States authorities.
“I am now aware that persons who are applying for their ESTAs — the US are now denying a number of BVIslanders with their UK passports,” Grange revealed on a recent episode of the Talking Points show.
He didn’t reveal the number of persons who’ve been denied in recent times, but said “we’ve never had that amount of denials or rejections in the past.”
Grange said in his opinion, the alleged ESTA denials are as a result of the “bad press” the BVI has received because of the drug trade, Commission of Inquiry findings and the cocaine scandal involving former Premier Andrew Fahie and the mother-son duo Oleanvine and Kadeem Maynard.
“The Virgin Islands got some terrible press and as a result we are viewed as a corrupt community. That is far from the truth. However, most of us remained silent. Some of us even have information and don’t come forward. Here is the challenge, all of us will now be affected,” Grange posited. “This should be alarming for every member of the territory, which is why we can’t be complacent as a community anymore.”
In April this year, the Office of the Deputy Governor issued an advisory urging select residents to report any difficulties they are experiencing getting into the United States. However, the Deputy Governor’s Office did not explicitly state that residents have been experiencing challenges and the reasons for those challenges.
In the meantime, BVI News has reached out to Deputy Governor David Archer and Premier Natalio Wheatley to confirm the reports of residents being denied US visa waivers. Our news centre is still awaiting responses from both leaders.
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they probably lying on the application.
I know of BVI / UK passport holders who barely speak English, who have no connection whatsoever to the UK, and actually have bitter feelings of resentment towards the UK and its people. Perhaps this is part of the issue for Homeland Security?
I have absolutely no problem renewing mine for the past 20 years. Maybe those who are denied are not qualified for the visa
This guy says that BVI being a corrupt country is far from the truth…..
One guy in the HoA is currently charged for beach of trust
The prime minister is happy that his other ministers gave money to friends and family (who didn’t need it) under “covid” grants.
The former prime minister is in jail and is still getting praise from his party members who currently are in government.
BVI is super corrupt. Unfortunately there is no way around it.
from BVI smugglers bringing illegal drugs, people, etc. into the USA.
The sooner the Premier does what he agreed to in writing to the UK re COI recommendations the sooner our reputation will start to recover. There will be no lifting of the Order In Council till he stops dragging his heels and just gets the job finished as quickly as possible. This includes stopping the whining he is doing publicly which just fuels the bad press because it makes him look like what he is; “Sl**ande”!
Certain UK officials in BVI and in the UK are working behind the scenes against people from the BVI getting visas to go to the US. They already organized to take the VG from the BVI passport under false pretense. These are the facts they will never admit.
This elitist mentality here has to stop!
I bet more Americans entering the BVI have been denied than BVIslanders to the USA. Fact is there are undesirables in both directions, and denials happen. If you are of bad character this stuff will happen, just get over it and stop crying to the talking heads on the radio in order to garner some ‘victim points’ you damn well don’t deserve!
To you guys on the radio …. stop reporting things without all the facts! You, and your petty drama games are getting exhausting! You guys ever heard of the boy that cries “wolf” too much?
When the day truly comes too report something legitimate and worthwhile no one will believe a damn thing you say!
Now give us the real facts as to why they were denied ESTAs, because your ‘poor, poor, BVI victim’ narrative is getting old and tedious!
What goes around coming back around!!
If you all elect Myron the USA is watching things like that
I have read online that the department issuing ESTA’s is going to check Social Media of applicants before approval. So be careful what you post.
The rejection has nothing to do with the BVI but has everything to do with the individual’s application. The cross-triangulation of data is so sophisticated and if something on your application doesn’t check out – i.e. you hold other passports and don’t declare it, you will be rejected. In order to get a UK passport, you must also declare if you hold another passport. This data is shared with the USA. All of this data must be complete and accurate. Try again and make sure it is complete and accurate in all respects. Any inconsistency or irregularity will find you REJECTED. Be diligent.
Witness cooperation from Miami
They are not lying on the application. This has happened in every Caribbean country where the government sold citizenship. When the Fahie administration started giving out citizenship without proper process and without any criterion other governments will naturally not view us anymore as easy and desirable to allow into their countries. There are consequences for poor governance and this is just one of them. Are the people being denied recent recipients of citizenship, I know one that was denied and he only got a BVI passport a few years ago. #consequences of lunatics as leaders
Every cloud have a silver lining.
Population of neer do well opportunists seeking status will dwindle,hopefully.
. . (B)VI Passport
UK Passport
USA Passport
Most BVIslanders have all three so no problem.
Just wait until someone in Washington presses that single button that links IRS records to immigration. Oh yes, peeps, it’s SO easy. At a stroke of the keyboard, all those BVIslanders who have “forgotten” ever to file an annual return with the IRS are identified as they attempt to enter the US…..
It gotta be those who were fast-tracked for votes
The BVI is viewed as a drug hub.
I wasn’t aware we have or ever had Prime Ministers in the VI.
It is the publication of these personal assumptions that cause more damage to our reputation. There is a problem where Esta holders do not appear to have exited the U.S. territory. The issue is in the USVI where the process is not completed, so the traveller appears to not having exited the U.S., so yes there is a problem, but not because they have blacklisted the BVI.
There are worse assaults on we the people
Lack of water,power, clean air,quality education, health services,safe roads,bank services….
Courtesy of the ones we elected,Satan’s missionaries grappling at the gates for Independence in an effort to discard the limited oversight by the UK and accountability.
I have a BVI Passport and I just came back from a cruise using an ESTA with no problem: I have my ESTA since November 2019. It was the first time I used it last month.
I Traveled to St Thomas with my BVI passport with the USVI/BVI Waiver initiative
Once on US soil, I am free to roam anywhere. So when I boarded the ship from Miami, they do not process you and scan your passport. A port officer will ask for your VISA or Esta. They checked to see whether your passport details match with the Esta details eg. Passport number, expiration date etc
When you reach back to Miami after the cruise, the process is the same, you show your ESTA.
Flying back to St Thoma, your waiver information is in the system. When they scan you are clear as day light.
The problem with the UK passport with the ESTA probably arise from how the applicant fill out their application form. Once the information is inserted incorrectly, it will come back rejected. I doubt it has anything to do with the COI or all the negative comments about the BVI.
People should just stick with their BVI passport with the Waiver. It is easy. We talking down the UK and the shit they doing, but yet still we want their passport. That mek sense? Maybe that way y’all being rejected. lol
Ummmmmmmm. Sept 13th 2017.
The BVI once upon a time was a peaceful haven to relax and enjoy nature at its best .
Today :
1. Premier waiting under duress for illegal activities
2. Present premier complaining about getting the COI recommendation up to pat
3. Murders committed in broad daylight people dont trust the police
4. Outstanding citizens and their family getting busted over drugs
Upset with the people who catch them
5. Some senior civil servants doing scandalous stiuff
Yes the Bvi has lost its innocence
I read on international news that all europea countries will be required a visa, but is an easy process
Everything is true. when i heard how you are treating the Caribbean Nationals and denying them entry and legal rights in the BVI. We had no choice but to treat you the same. The BVIslands must know how it feels to be denied entry. Good luck
As I can certainly understand why he would assume so, but it’s so far from the truth. SADLY, those ESTA’S aren’t reviewed by an actual human being. They are computer generated and if you mark one question wrong it’s an automatic DENIED! I spent hours on the phone before even receiving a denial email bc I immediately notice my frds application was marked “no” when it asked if they had a job/employment. My frd misunderstood it to be a question asking if they were basically seeking employment. My question on the phone was “How do you correct an answer on an ESTA application?” Guess what the answer was… There is no way and if you’re denied there also is no way to resubmit it w/ the correct response. You are then flagged in the system. I’m a US citizen and own a home and businesses in the US. This is TOTAL BS!
Andrew Fahie made a mess of the BVI. He should be imprisoned in the USA for live. He destroyed the reputation of the BVI. He should be ashamed to show his face here.
If you are a US citizen you don’t need an ESTA
Deputy Governor David Archer is attributing denials to inaccurate recordings of reentry into the territory, ie, if a BVI visitor to the US rentry to the US is not properly recorded, it reflects in the system that the visitor never left the US. Folks this is not the old days of pen and paper with time lags in the system. Everything is computerized and is instantaneous, ie, the Feds know your movement in the system. Customs and Immigration must dot the I and cross the T so as avoid problems in the future with travel. Moreover, commentators must apply the carpenters rule , ie, measure twice or more before cutting, before reporting on stuff with speculative and sensational opinions. The BVI has enough bad press we don’t need to be reinforcing it. Remember whatever is in cyberspace moves universally and instantaneously. Comprehende, capice!!
Why would you hate a country and people you don’t know
good. the way your immigration and customs treat ppl like sht and are soon to be convicted drug traffickers, maybe all yall can eat sht traveling to usa. the amount of crap you give people that own property in bvi, usa should have shut the gates from stt long time.you have your babies on our dirt, free citizenship, never pay tax, then treat us like sht on bvi arrival.
until the BVI people are smart enough to know that low standards throughout their gov. will in the long run, fk all a we, this sht will trickle down on the 30000 ppl here, while 5000 gov. staff continue providing 3rd world services. fix it. you all watch tv. there is a 1st world. bvi has 1st world money. demand the performance from your ppl or the world will stop wanting to buy/vaca bvi, as there are many islands, and the others have friendlier ppl and lower costs.then bvi is broke, as the offshore bank game is a battle against giants. our future is with hospitality and 2nd homes.
paybacks a b-.