Gov’t allowing entry of work permit holders and other persons on Sept 1
Starting September 1, the British Virgin Islands will allow the entry of work permit holders and work permit exemption holders.
Premier Andrew Fahie made that announcement Friday evening and said it is part of Phase II of government’s Restricted Border Re-opening Plan that is subject to a weekly review.
These categories of persons will be required to provide proof of valid employment; an employees’ certificate of earnings; valid COVID-19 operational certification; certificates of good standing from the Social Security Board, Inland Revenue, and National Health Insurance; as well as a valid trade licence, where applicable.
Cabinet has also granted “exceptional approval” for teachers in the private and public sectors as well as persons employed by government and its statutory bodies.
They will be required to provide a valid permit to reside in the territory, an employment letter or contract, and a visa/visa waiver for persons travelling from countries requiring visa entry into the BVI.
Other categories of persons who will also be allowed re-entry under similarly strict conditions are “students of locally-based medical schools and H Lavity Stoutt Community College”, dependents (spouses and children), persons wishing to conduct business in the territory, and persons who have been granted permission to reside for a definite period (people who are permitted to reside but not seek employment and individuals with Land Holding Licenses).
‘Special category’
Cabinet further decided that a “special category of persons” will be allowed in the territory for no longer than five days. They are aviation crew, maritime crew, diplomats, healthcare practitioners, emergency maintenance/repair workers, and other technical personnel.
“Other essential specialised workers not mentioned are subject to approval [for entry] by the Minister responsible for Immigration & Labour and the Minister for Health,” the Premier said.
Earlier re-entry and quarantine requirements
Fahie said dependents, persons employed to government agencies, as well as persons who departed the territory for medical purposes and those who accompanied them will be allowed to enter the territory by application to the Health and Immigration ministers from Saturday, August 15.
“All other categories of persons must apply from September 1,” he added.
As it relates to quarantine requirements, Premier Fahie said all qualified persons who may be required to quarantine in private accommodation upon re-entry “would be required to contribute toward the cost for 24-hour security and other administrative expenses of $3,500 per household; except for reasons such as medical or as otherwise exceptionally authorised by the Minister for Health”.
“That is if you select your private quarantine,” the Premier said.
“Additionally, we decided that all qualified persons, regardless of immigration status, required to quarantine in government accommodation upon return to the territory, will be required to contribute towards the cost of quarantine as of 1st October,” Fahie added.
He continued: “We also decided that all qualified persons, except for Virgin Islanders, Belongers, Permanent Residents and Naturalised Citizens will contribute toward the costs for government quarantine accommodation, 24-hour security and meals in the amount of $2500, with effect from 1st October.”
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Always caving under pressure. LOL, my sweet BVI can never make a solid decision and stick with the decision. My sweet BVI always cave under pressure. Have a great day guys.
So a person that is a Land Holder can come to the Territory, stay at their property and have to pay $3500? For what? You posting a guard at each property? This is absurd. The government is just seeking to make people pay and or stay away It’s outrageous. Be prepared to turn away the cruise ships come November.
Thank you sir
For the damage is already done!
What about persons whose application has been approved. Can they enter too?
Thank you for hearing our cries
Thank you Fahie,they think you don’t know what you are doing, but they are wrong,
ok my bvi people applied at every work place the window is closing…and mr premier instead of having security why not use the government work force. Have a piece of paper at the admin building and have Volunteer to watch the people…..they can do 12 hr, 2 morning 2 night 4 days off for 2 weeks rotate and government don’t have to pay the strain.
Can a person who received their immigration clearance enter?
The BAN was lifted because the PASTOR LET LOOSE FIRE ON THEIR BEHINDS.
WASTE OF TIME!
thank you sir for having a compassionate heart. God Bless You
After 10 + years coming to BVI,with family members living here also,involved in community. We decide to buy a hurricane damage house. We had to pay lots of $ to government. I left in June for business and my family still there. Do you really think it’s fair to pay a other 3500$.I don’t need security at my house. Believe me why now and not in March and April when we were lock down…
Pirates of the Caribbean 2020, always $$
People out of work for months and you asking them big $$$$,Pirates of the Caribbean
FAHIE
Have you lost your job? Do you have your family with you? Do you have a good income? Do you have bills that your in need of money to pay? 3500$ is a lot of money for some people in this difficult time. Who needs a security?
Just please keep the elderly in the Nursing Home safe.
It’s not caving under pressure. It was never a permanent ban. People just dont have any patience. It was despicable how people have been behaving especially the last month. I wonder how some people feel returning to the BVI after they have said the worst things about the territory and its people. Some even wished for hurricanes as if the hurricanes would skip expats and affect only locals.
The governor pressured him and he is down-playing it like he is some kinda hero
Reply
I have one question. Is it fair that persons, who are belongers, come into the country and quarantine on the expensive of the state and they don’t work or reside in the territory? I know of a few particularly from Florida who came into the territory for a function like a wedding, baby shower etc and then leave some even still here as their US jobs allow them to work from home. I think it would have only been fair to let persons who not working in the territory pay their own quarantine. Now those that work here and pay taxes have to pay. A lot needs to taken into consideration when policies are being put in place.
Remember that you promised things to God to help people with work permits and you have not fulfilled them, all of us who went through the hurricane here have been forgotten do not let them humiliate those of us with work permits so much we come here to work we pay rent water, electricity, internet, social security, NHI, etc. If some do not pay them, then many of us already have children and a life made here
Great to hear you’re doing this but it is the price to come back that is questionable… Why more expensive to home isolate without the 3 meals a day? Is it because the security company (whose owner is a relative of 1 of the government staff) are charging $18 per hour but the guards are getting paid $8 per hour or less? That is, if and when they are actually getting paid…
Do not confuse, talking hurricane because the last time the expat and Belonger were together cleaning the place, that’s probably why someone mentioned hurricane ?
I think the Premier has shown great judgement and humility by overturning a decision that was bad for the economy and cruel for all those who need to get back to their jobs, homes and families. I commend him for this. I do wish the quarantining requirement could be cut back to say 2 tests upon and after arrival and maybe a couple days quarantine while waiting for results. After all, long term quarantining is not going remain possible when the tourist are let in so reliance on testing is something they are going to have to learn to do.
How am I supposed to get all those paperworks when I am locked out. I can get them when I enter after the 2 weeks quarantine.
It is quite clear that government are hoping a lot of expats simply don’t return. Not many people can afford to pay that much money. This is disgraceful really, it’s discrimination.
My fellow BVIslanders, Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves Philippians 2:3
My fellow BVIslanders, Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves Philippians 2:3
Why don’t the Tourist Board and employees watch and check on the people coming in. What else are they doing. There are no tourists and since there is no announcement of when they are being let in they can at least earn their money.
I just called a friend to go and put a for sale sing on my property so when I come in I will make the bank take it and leave.thank you BVI.
I want to believe that the Premier is an honourable man, but he sure managed to stick a double-edged sword into himself; and it’s cutting him going in and coming out! Many people are upset with him for the cruel, exclusionary policy that has created lots of ill will and, now, many others are upset with him for repealing it sooner than they would like. Good leadership would have put forth a sensible policy to begin with that was fair and acceptable to all concerned. I believe that the Premier was doing a good job up until COVID, but like Napoleon he has shown his weaknesses and met his Waterloo. Unfortunately, this episode has also shown the fractures within this society and continues to inflict lasting damage, not just on the Premier, but on the entire BVI. Truly sad.
Unbelievable, it doesn’t matter which Government gets in; The results seems to be the same.You imposed a mandatory quarantine and now we must pay.What are we to pay with if the country isn’t making any money.
You put a ban ayo complain, remove it ayo complain. It’s like some people want the government to do exactly what they want and if they dont they wont give it a break. We need all the ungrateful, dirty minded people to stay away from the BVI and let those that really love the BVI come and make the place better. They are a lot of good expats here but the dirty ones that got the biggest mouth and the most to say. Ayo sickening.
But, this seems to be all the pieces that were being said previously being put together in one document. One still needs to show proof of employment etc and all that good-standing stuff; get permission from Labour Minister; pay quarantine; if you don’t have work you still got to go! What is there to rejoice about? Did I misunderstand what I read?
Mr Premier, you are only delaying the inevitable … severing ties to those who will be a burden.
As for those who have exemption, especially through marriage, are they still married? Wasn’t exemption as a result of a ‘married state’?
I do NOT believe that the majority of bvislanders are bigots. But I hope that the few bigots who remain loud and proud get the message. It is safe to blame their ignorance on their similarly ignorant leaders. Education is key – the government should immediately implement policies and training exercises to eradicate the stench of bigotry they have placed in the society which has a negative long term impact…it is worst that the stench that hits one every day as you enter the town. It is ugly, senseless and a thing of yester-years. Forward ever backward never? Umm, that’s the biggest lie! They just did a BLM march and I didnt see them asking who have work permit from who dont – everyone marched together. Remember how good that felt? See what unity can bring? And yet still the leader and his followers didnt learn?? I still do not understand the logic on the INDEFINITE BAN on reentry of work permit holders in the first place! That’s right, dont try sweep it under the rug as if it was always part of the Phase 2 plan. This DOES NOT fix anything but of course an ignorant would think it is a fix. You said INDEFINITE. God have mercy upon us all because at the end of the day, the innocent may end up suffering for the bloody foolish!
We have people living and working here now who cannot obtain certificates of good standing from government. How is someone locked out ever going to obtain those documents? It’s just a ploy to appear you are doing something, while actually placing greater barriers to entry. Good luck trying to reopen with no qualified staff.
I don’t see why black lives matter is a part of this conversation. BLM have nothing to do with work permits. Plus any foreigner regardless of skin color is required to have a work permit to work in the BVI. By the way indefinite just means an unspecified date. Indefinite is usually stated when you don’t have a particular time frame set because the situation is fluid like with the current pandemic. Stressing on indefinite doesn’t change the meaning of the word.
There should not have been any ban in the first place, indefinite or not. People with work permit lives matter. Unity matters. Equality matters. Stop trying to make NONSENSE out of sense!!!
It’s good that the premier is trying to help my fellow exparts but why do someone have to pay quarantine fees at there own homes and meals. When they could just allow someone to do there shopping for them and they do there own cooking. Plus the fees are very expensive knowing you got Bill’s and rent to pay etc.. I believe the premier should reconsider some of these amendments.
DON’T DO IT PREMIER!!!!!!
Me too, house for sale. That’s enough bullshit
Mr. Premier, you do – you get abused, you don’t – you still get abused! The good doc and Clines, do you now understand what is happening? Our country’s clock needs to be reset … URGENTLY! Grow what you need to grow!!!
The borders are closed for tourist. They ain’t fussing and fighting. The borders were closed for BVIslanders they never fussed and fight. Everybody waited patiently for government to open the borders but one set of people feel they got more rights to the BVI than anybody else.
anonymous, how much did you have to pay to go to your HOME. I think it’s different.
Agreed! I don’t see why permit holders should be let back in at this time. It’s a World Pandemic and why should the BVI be forced to let in outsiders when we are trying to keep the citizens safe. Of course the economy is going to suffer. What’s the guarantee of building an economy if the People are sick and dying.Let those permit holders stay where they are. Only in the BVI outsiders come in and say and do as they feel. I don’t a Rat’s behind who thinks I am being ignorant. BVI is my Territory and if I don’t stand up for the Soil who will certainly not those permit holders and nonbelongers. Remember they have their Country to go back to when ours fail.
How the f*** can you refer to someone that is living in BVI for years with family, apartment, job and a valid work permit as an OUTSIDER???? Are you serious??? Someome with years of ties here and ended up being out of the Territory for whatever reason and they should just f*** off and stay where they are despite their belongings, jobs, family are here?
Its unfair to ask working persons to pay for quarantine of they are up to date with their permit and all taxes. There are Belongers who live in the US and other places that do not pay taxes here but they got a 14 day hotel stay with food included for FREE. The irony is that this was paid for by the taxes and fees paid by the same persons that we are trying to keep out. The level of karma that await some of you will be off the charts
The KKK hate black people but they never wished for hurricanes and earthquakes to harm the USA. Expats claim here is home but wishing harm to the BVI just because they were temporarily locked out.
BVI News.. why does the reply feature not work anymore ??
What is the procedure to reenter? Is there a website to apply??
I am sorry for you the BVI. These expats do not like you all. You can tell by their behavior they are only here for the good life and the money.