BVI News

No provision for expat children in new immigration law — Gov’t

The government has clarified that the recently amended Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2024, does not introduce new provisions for granting residence status to children born in the territory to non-Belonger parents.

This clarification follows earlier communications suggesting such pathways were included.

The Act, which received assent from Governor Daniel Pruce on 1 November 2024, brings significant changes to the territory’s immigration laws. Notably, it extends the residency requirement for Belonger status applications from 10 to 20 years.

Additionally, the Act establishes an Immigration Appeals Board to oversee appeals related to immigration decisions.

The Board of Immigration will continue advising the Cabinet on annual immigration quotas, considering the territory’s capacity and needs. This approach aims to balance development with the protection of local interests.

“The amendments represent a step forward in refining our immigration system. We are committed to ensuring that the process is transparent and equitable,” Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley stated.

The government also highlighted that the amended law will come into force on a date appointed by the Premier, as published in the Gazette. Therefore, individuals who applied for status before this commencement date will have their applications processed under the previous legal framework.

The government said it remains dedicated to creating policies that foster long-term prosperity for all residents, ensuring a fair and transparent process that benefits the residents and supports the territory’s continued growth.

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23 Comments

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  1. Roger Burnett says:

    My book “For the Sake of the Children” is essential background reading to this issue. https://www.studiopublications.org/product-page/for-the-sake-of-the-children

  2. NO SUPPRISE THERE says:

    They are island animals / only when NESSARY , THEY ARE CALLED ” OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS ” TO FOOL THE PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD , LIKE WE SO HOLY

    Like 10
    Dislike 3
  3. okay says:

    that is the reason work permits should only be for 5 years max the a renewal must be made outside of the territory, the expats that come in and have multiple children the overburden the school system ad healthcare are employed on 1 Year work permits , there is no promise of getting it renewed but yet they want everything even though when taking the job the permit was for them and them alone! Send me the hate but its the truth…

    Like 12
    Dislike 19
  4. Pfft... says:

    Why not just make it illegal for non-Belongers to procreate in any fashion. Those caught indulging in procreational activities with either Belongers on non Belongers get expelled on the next ferry along with Belongers participating and their progeny. No ante-natal or ob/gyn services for non-Belongers. Pregnant non-belongers to be sent back and not allowed to return with their children. To paraphrase Trump’s acolyte, Steve Miller: BVI for Belongers only. We already got plenty of our own criminals.

    Like 5
    Dislike 15
    • Styles. says:

      Deporting people because of their background?

      A big fan of mr. A. Hitler are you?

      • 2025 says:

        Trump will be deportong by the plane load and citizenship by birth in the US will no longer be the rule, which includes the USVI.
        The upside will hopefully,be fewer updeislun imports from the upper Caribbean to the rest of the world settling and creating chaos and degrading quality of life in areas where they settle.
        Hopefully they will begin to appreciate and utilize the gifts of Nature and not continue to murder each other by the thousands as a hobby.

      • 2025 says:

        Trump will be deportong by the plane load and citizenship by birth in the US will no longer be the rule, which includes the USVI.
        The upside will hopefully,be fewer updeislun imports from the upper Caribbean to the rest of the world settling and creating chaos and degrading quality of life in areas where they settle.
        Hopefully they will begin to appreciate and utilize their gifts of Nature and not continue to murder each other by the thousands as a hobby.

  5. VG68 says:

    The BVI needs to disallow any BVIslander/Belonger from having their babies in St, Thomas, St.Croix & Puerto Rico so the child attains U.S. Citizenship. All these born BVIslanders slinging this negative policy….. Question. How many BVIslanders are living in the U.S. ?? How many are carrying a U.S. Passprt ? A LOT . So, I suggest you stay here in the BVI and have your children and not burden the USA system with your unfavorable laws for children.

    Like 26
    Dislike 2
    • duh says:

      that’s a US loop hole to address. you don’t hear Russia or China telling their citizens to not have babies while visiting the US.

  6. ... says:

    Dont feed the trolls

    The easy fix is to make work permits meaningful. I would not mind if a person has kids and adds to the BVI if the work permit was meaningful. Too many entry level jobs and shovel technician jobs are going out to work permit instead of hiring locally.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  7. 7 YEARS MAX says:

    WHY THESE OUTSIDERS DONT WANT TO OBEY OUR LAWS ??????????????

  8. BVISLANDER 100% says:

    BVISLANDERS DOESN’T COMPLAIN WHILE THEY ARE LIVING IN OTHER COUNTRIES

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  9. Becky Brandford says:

    BVI must be the most xenophobic colonies ever!!

  10. It's the Economy silly says:

    Can’t have all white collar, can’t have all blue collar. Need both to survive. Growth of economy through a diversified community or we all inevitably suffer from our own self imposed isolation.

  11. Lack of Education says:

    The level of
    Prejudice and discrimination, jealousy and badmindness will keep us as a divided territory.

    This is
    Unproductive
    Uneconomical
    and disrespectful, disturbing .

    When you are in the public space and you observed the hoggish, dismissive, angry way expats are treated by public servants especially
    Whit… people and Guysn… it is appalling.

    For a Christian community we need to do better.
    The prejudice is so obvious it is frightening.

  12. Madea says:

    Why the hateful comments against non belongers and expats and their children. If it wasn’t for the expats earning the money here who would pay the high rents for the properties and buy the food, goods and cars at very expensive prices and hire locals? If the UK leaves the BVI to run itself it will just become another corrupt Narco country and then you will be wishing the expats were here.

  13. Don’t feed the locals says:

    The locals don’t want expats here plain and simple. How many times can they make that clear lol.

    • YeP says:

      Those that have made it most difficult and cumbersome to gain entrance anywhere and everywhere are a real burden on other traveller’s. It is literally like what would be going thru the gates of Hell when they are in line…it takes ten times longer and by the time your turn comes thru immigration officers have been so stressed that they are in a foul mood. And this is in the US and also Canada that I have routinely been fed up to the max.
      The worse part of my travellings g.

    • YeP says:

      Those that have made it most difficult and cumbersome to gain entrance anywhere and everywhere are a real burden on other traveller’s. It is literally like what would be going thru the gates of Hell when they are in line…it takes ten times longer and by the time your turn comes thru immigration officers have been so stressed that they are in a foul mood. And this is in the US and also Canada that I have routinely been fed up to the max.
      The worse part of my travellings.

  14. AND THE HIPPO WITH THE WIG says:

    HOLLERING OUT ABOUT THE WHITE SLAVE MASTERS, HE NEEDS TO BLEACH HIS SKI LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON , THEN WE CAN UNDERSTAND HIS RACIST NARRATIVES WITH ALL THESE RACIST BLOGGS HE USES TO GET HIS HATRED AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OUR OEN CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS , PLUS , HE AINT EVEN A FULL BLOWN TOLIAN , AND WR ARE STILL WONDERING WHY HE JUST DONT STAY ON HIS YELLO SITE WHERE HE RULES SUPREME

  15. Norris Turnbull says:

    @VG68. You are so full of shit. Stupid shit.

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