Are you having challenges entering the United States via ESTA?
The Office of the Deputy Governor has issued an advisory urging select residents to report any difficulties they are experiencing getting into the United States.
In a statement on Thursday, the Deputy Governor’s Office said: “Travellers from the Virgin Islands who are experiencing or have experienced challenges when using an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Visa Waiver to enter the United States, are asked to report their experience to the Office of the Deputy Governor.”
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.
The Deputy Governor’s Office did not explicitly state that residents have been experiencing challenges. But there have been reports of BVI locals experiencing difficulties entering the United States via ESTA in previous years.
In the meantime, persons are asked to email the Office of the Deputy Governor at [email protected] with details including the name of any traveller who has experienced these challenges, the date of their travel, and a brief description of their experience.
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I wonder if this is connected with Fahie’s mishap, and the long established “third pillar” generally?
Just travelled through San Juan! No Issues!!!
This MFer. Talking
My ESTA works fine going into SJU.
Perhaps there is an issue with “hidden” US persons who have BVI or British passports using ESTAs? Anyone born in the USVI or PR or USA is automatically a US person, subject to US taxes, unless they have formally rescinded their US citizenship. Going into the US as a hidden US person on a non-US passport will cause problems in future
The issue for US nationals is not the paying of taxes as much as it is to report worldwide income annually. IRS rules generally allow a $ 90k deduction for overseas wages for US citizens living and working outside the US. Plus, they allow deduction of income taxes paid in their country of residence. So, not quite double taxation. The gotcha is failure to report. It’s how Al Capone went to prison. With the advancement of tech, it’s only a matter of time before CBP and IRS records are linked allowing a US born adult BVIslander to get detained upon entry for failure to file annual returns. As you point out, a US national entering US on an ESTA visa in another passport (eg BVI, UK) is problematic.
Al Capone went to prison for EVADING taxes on the millions he made in illegal activities, not for failing to file his returns in a timely manner.
I think they actually got him on mail fraud
BS was in rock and Miami this year with no problem.
I was one who get denied I never been lock up or nothing and I get send back up so wa kcuf u talking
If you were in Head Coach’s phone, whether in WhatsApp or another app, then you will be pulled over. Simple as that. Time to apply for a redress number (or not!).
@Headcoachphone
I have been thinking the same thing. I used to send him WhatsApp but only words of encouragement and religious stuff. However, I stopped about the end of 2019, my intuition told me something wasn’t right with him. Ofcourse I was CORRECT! I hope being a past WhatsApp friend wouldn’t be a hindrance to me being allowed entry into the United States. The majority of my family members live there including my elderly mother. Oh snap!
If the bvi premier is going to start restricting usvi charter tourism, usvi should start restricting bvi travel to usvi. We should work together, the short sideness of the bvi premier doesn’t see the whole picture. Should be working and living together.
Neither this article nor the press release is helpful. ESTA is for UK passport holders, or countries that are approved only, BVI passport do not qualify for the ESTA program, it is nothing to do with where you live. Also many people enter the US from BVI with their UK passport and return with their BVI passport, this would say to US authorities the the person who entered with the UK passport is still in the US as the records would not show them leaving. We creating these problems for ourselves. BVI passport waiver is to enter the US via USVI only.
You are absolutely correct
You can now have the ESTA in your BVI passport and travel on it.
False you can apply for it but you will be denied checking because it has to be a UK passport the us never approved it for BVI what caused it to work was after the bvi passport got updated it became similar to the UK passport but it does not carry the same benefit of a us esta
What rubbish are you spewing. An ESTA is a waiver extended to passport holders of Canada, UK and a few others. BVI is not one of those countries and it is not in the dropbox. Of course where a person has a passport from anothe4 country, the dropbox lists every country to choose from so you can choose your country.
Sooner or later they will stop you..
Bvi govnt need to work on getting the bvi passport to enter the US with an esta..
You have straight flight to mia.i but cant go with a bvi passport makes no sense.
You can go with a B.V.I passport with a US visa in it. Tortola is not under the visa waver program.
Since the ESTA application process was re-opened after and persons with UK and other qualifying countries were ince qgain allowed to submit their online ESTA applications, at the onset, quite a large number of persons whose ESTA expired between 2020 to 2022 were not approved for the ESTA. Persons who have always had the waiver, didnt travel in the U.S for at least 2 years and no logical reason. We are aware of a high amount of BVI citizens and residents who are also dual U.K citizens. To be able to enter the u s again, they would have to apply for a B1/B2 non immigrant visa from the U.S Embassy in Barbados. If this happened to you contact the office as directed in the article.
Archer has become so irrelevant
You are not very clear.
We are aware of a high amount of BVI citizens and residents who are also dual U.K citizens. To be able to enter the u s again, they would have to apply for a B1/B2 non immigrant visa from the U.S Embassy in Barbados. If this happened to you contact the office as directed in the article.
Das bull shit.
You’re entitled to your opinion. I speak based on facts. The system had a problem for a while. Yes, some BVI citizens are also UK citizens. Is that not true. The DG did not call on everyone who has a UK passport. He made the call for his BVI people who are also UK citizens. UK citizens are mot only white ones. If you have a passport from a country, live there or not you are a citizen.
If a ESTA application was not approved, theb the only recourse without diplomatic interference is by applying for a visitor’s U.S visa through the nearest U.S embassy.
As I’ve said before, so say I again, if your ESTA application was denied especially around mid 2022 for no reason, please contact the DG office.
So we having straight flight from miami soon..so youtelling me a person with a BVI passport cant travel in that flight.. lol. These are the things bvi govnt need to be looking into it is about time we stop this crap that we must go through st thomas to go to the US..and must return from a US country as well…if I hapoen to go punta cana from puerto rico..I can not leave from punta cana back to puerto rico or st. Thomas with a BVI passport..must fly back home direct or charter pureeee nonsense!!!get the damn esta fix bvi passport should be allowed esta these blasted government only look into BS and not into real matters.
I live in two places , BVI and elsewhere. Not USA or UK.
Long experience has taught me that I will get more hassle from the US immigration if I use my BVI address rather than my other one.
My name is Fahie. I was pulled over when in fort louderdale. I dunno no wa for. Maybe it was the gold chain and bad attitude?