BVI Immigration launches passport control kiosks at Beef Island airport
The Immigration Department has installed Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island to expedite entry for returning locals holding a British Virgin Islands or United Kingdom passport.
A press release by the Premier’s Office noted that the APC kiosks, launched during a brief ceremony at the airport last Friday, will enable eligible travellers to scan their passports and respond to entry questions.
The system performs a facial recognition verification of the travellers which allows them entry into the territory if successful.
Deputy Premier Kye Rymer, who was Acting Premier at the time of the launch, said: “We are working with e-Government to make these processes efficient, streamlined, and online. We want to ensure [entering the Virgin Islands] is a seamless process.”
Rymer also acknowledged the hard work of the Immigration Department, which he said “worked tirelessly” during the height of COVID-19.
“We look forward to the launch of the additional phases of the [border management system],” he added.
Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Carolyn Stoutt Igwe, said the kiosks are a significant milestone, “as the government seeks to enhance services to ensure the best possible experience for residents and visitors, as well as to improve the territory’s border security”.
She also said the launch of the kiosks is timely in preparing for the next tourist season.
“We are a tourism destination, and we are working hard to ensure that we improve our services, as we look forward to the next tourist season,” Stoutt-Igwe said.
The Permanent Secretary referred to the launch of the Immigration Department’s Border Management and e-Visa System back in December 2020. She explained that since then, the department has launched different services under the Border Management and eVisa System with Friday’s launching of the kiosks being another phase of the project.
The Permanent Secretary said the system’s next phase entails the launch of the small vessel and aircraft portal which will allow pre-clearance for private/charter vessels, day-trippers, and private/charter aircraft. Additionally, the Entry and Debarkation (ED) cards online processing is underway.
“I hope everyone is as excited as I am and will pray for the Immigration Department as they continue to transform our experience at our borders,” Stoutt Igwe said.
The Permanent Secretary concluded her remarks by expressing gratitude to the Canadian Bank Note (CBN) Company officials for their “steadfast assistance” with the project, in addition to the Immigration Department’s team for their hard work in advancing the initiatives.
Commenting on the new kiosks, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Nadia Demming-Hodge said: “This proven technology is widely used throughout the Caribbean region and internationally and is designed to reduce the wait time upon arrival while securely vetting the traveller”.
Demming-Hodge said that eligibility for the use of the kiosk will extend to other nationalities within a future phase of the project.
Director of Business Development of CBN, Fuencisla Leal-Santiago, thanked the Immigration Department and stakeholders present and said she looks forward to continuing the successful working relationship with the Government of the Virgin Islands.
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Why couldn’t it be the head of Immigration why do these politicians have to be grandstanding for everything. It should be the lady and the head of Immigration. This is something so simple
That doesn’t change a thing with the poor processing of visitors. I have been to St Maarten and within one hour they will clear two 747. I cam here on liat and it took immigration three hours. So would that even make a difference? You need to get your immigration officers out at the desk when the plane lands, not when everyone is off the plane.
Because she too busy getting strippers for her man’s night club. 😉
How will this help 95% of the people in line waiting to arrive daily who are non residents?
Why is it restricted to BVI and UK passports?? The passport office is impossible to deal with, year or more wait for appointment, for a passport which doesn’t give me the visa free entry of my other passport.
Rymer also acknowledged the hard work of the Immigration Department, which he said “worked tirelessly” during the height of COVID-19. …. yea right… of course they worked hard during the height of COVID when the borders were closed and no one was travelling. smh
will go to the opening of an envelope.
the Govt needs to focus on the visitors, not the residents.We are a tourist destination and yet we put bvi islanders over the tourists. Make it inviting for visitors instead of making them feel like criminals. i know they do this intimidation thing in the US, but lets be much better than the US.
I have 2 passports filled with stamps over 28 years of coming a few times a year. Barely are there 2 or 3 arriving belongers in my flight. The other 20 to 30 visitors wait in line, sometimes for 30 to 40 minutes. Why can’t you open 2 booths for visitors??
I have 2 passports full of stamps coming for 30 years a few times a year. Upon all my arrivals there are just a few belongers on flight. They have a separate line and wisk right through very quickly. The rest of us visitors stand in line 30 to 40 minutes. Why can’t you have 2 booths open?
The machines will be ignored by Belongers, who walk right through anyway, so they will sit there largely unused. More expenditure on equipment that will hardly be used, will not be maintained and which will break down before long. The point in buying the equipment is to give a fat commission to the people who sold the machines to the Government and who will then give a fat back-hander to the officials who approved it!