Residents frustrated over wait times at Road Town Ferry Dock
There are mounting concerns about the long wait residents have to endure when trying to re-enter the territory through the Road Town Ferry Dock.
This is because of a faulty or broken Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosk which the government recently placed at the territory’s air and seaports to expedite entry for returning locals holding a British Virgin Islands or United Kingdom passport.
The kiosk is supposed to enable eligible travellers to scan their passports and respond to entry questions relating to immigration. The government had also said the systems would be able to perform a facial recognition verification of the travellers.
But one member of the BVI News team who travelled through the Road Town Ferry Dock recently observed that the one kiosk present was “out of order” while there was a queue waiting to use it. Eventually, a staff member at the Ferry Dock was able to fix the kiosk but residents complained about having to join another queue to be verified by a Customs officer after using the kiosks that reportedly should cover immigration processes.
BVI News also noticed that there were not enough Customs and Immigration officers to serve the number of residents waiting to be processed.
Our news centre further observed that the queue to process visitors was also long. A taxi operator who services visitors also told our news centre that tourists have been complaining about the discomfort and long wait they have to endure at the Road Town Ferry Dock.
The issue with the kiosk and long wait times has raised questions about the readiness of the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport, which is expected to start accepting increased flights from American Airlines in June 2023.
When the kiosks were announced back in August, the government had said it was a significant milestone to enhance services and improve the territory’s border security.
The launch of the kiosks was also described as ‘timely’ in preparing for the next tourist season.
The system’s next phase entails launching a small vessel and aircraft portal which will allow pre-clearance for private/charter vessels, day-trippers, and private/charter aircraft. Additionally, Entry and Debarkation (ED) cards online-processing is underway.
There are also plans to make the kiosks available to nationalities entering the territory.
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Only now this is news?
No big surprise. Anyone actually expected that one little terminal would make things actually smoother.
Arriving in the BVI sucks.
Staff is rude, the lines are long, facilities outdated.
Everything this Guy Kye implement are failing one by one but because ayo like he, he getting away with it….example the million dollar elevator, messing up of the traffic, 6 million dollars for patching non lasting potholes, sewage and water woes, bushes scratching up our cars etc etc
I don’t hear anyone complaining about the long lines in PR and USVI but they want to come here and do as they please.
No lines in PR, and STT always have four officers
Additionally, when you use the Kiosk at the airports in the US, you still have to go to an officer for clearance. Why should the BVI Kiosk be any different? All travelers must be verified.
Not true, last week there were two officers. Both lines were running through the doors, and we patiently waited until our turn, not a peek was heard. We obey laws and regulations when we are away but want to be disrespectful and out of order at home. SMH
When the kiosh do not operate will the immigaration
do it mannually?
The computer get tired, only truth about computer is what human writes and implement, so, let us be real and start living again. THE OLDER PEOPLE DID IT WE CAN DO IT TOO.
Jesus will love that …
Such nonsense. Arriving in STT is way better as at least the officers are friendly. Sure it takes time too but the people are not rude.
And why always compare yourself to other crap situations?
Ever flown into the Bahamas? It’s amazing to arrive there. Friendly people, amazing atmosphere. We should aim for that. Not for STT.
Good lord,
It’s an objective fact that customs and immigration could do a better job processing incoming passengers. But you waste your breath inferring the current performance is acceptable. Congratulations, you… are… the… crab.
Some of you have no sense whatsoever. Stop comparing the BVI to other places. We are unique and one of a kind and with that we should not make excuses for the sloppy service. WE need to fix it and we need to fix it now. I personally think that since the Tourist Board is under the Premier Office, why isnt’t the Destination Host (hope i correct with the name) controlling the kiosk. Is it that hard. we make a big thing out of a small thing all the time and the answers are right there under our nose. I thought we all suppose to be working together for the betterment of this country. Train the Tourist Board staff and let them control the blasted kiosk. you people are sickening.
You don’t think the visitors aren’t fustrated at the wait times ? Maybe, just maybe if the customs and immigration would show a little enthusiasm in their job rather than bothered things might move a bit faster
the lines in STT are just as bad – yes four officers but still snails pace – took ages to clear through there the other day.
You have to manually fill out an immigration/customs form and then go over to the kiosk to fill out one electronically and then go to the immigration officer. Instead of making the process easier and less time consuming,the opposite is happening.
Went to St.Thomas on the 27 November on the 7.30 am trip reach downtown and immigration wasn’t even open and had to wait for almost 25 mins in lines to get through.People just need to have patience that’s all.
You just cant please tortola people always complaining.
And you can’t hold up signs for your guests to identify you(saw one of ROMASCO driver holding sign and dispatcher told him take it down saw them do it to LITTLE DIX BAY driver too.
There are simply some extremely rude immigration officers at the Road Town Ferry Dock. One lady in particular. Everyone who travels knows to whom I refer. She is unfriendly, mostly curt, and sometimes outright rude. No one expects to make friends with the officers but certainly, as a traveler, I would expect professionalism.
Strange BVI want only money no tender care
They should get another lesson like before gods gift
More passengers would come through west end ferry dock if service was restored than what the AA flight will bring in a day. Get your heads out of your arse and get ferry service running through west end again.
Extremely time consuming and rediculously expensive. Costing over $100 to clear myself and boat in.
1. Pay the Immigration and Customs Officers a correct salary, ( They help protect the borders)
2. Higher more Officers, but hey the pay.
For all of you that making noise about Officers, I am sure most of you get at least one day off a week, I am sure any of you would be cranky after your first day off was pulled, they are human. Some of these Officers have been working for One or more months straight. The Government needs to be arrested and charged. Smh.