RVIPF: New two-year limit imposed on visa waivers

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has introduced a two-year limit on visa waivers, ending the practice of granting waivers for the remaining validity period of an applicant’s passport.

The revised policy took immediate effect following an announcement by the police on Saturday, August 22.

“Effective immediately, visa waivers will no longer be valid for the remaining life of the holder’s passport,” the RVIPF stated.

Under the new arrangement, authorities will issue waivers for no more than two years, regardless of when the applicant’s passport expires.

Police said the change is part of ongoing measures to strengthen border security and protect both parties participating in the waiver arrangement.

The change does not remove the existing requirements that applicants must meet. Police said officials will continue to consider each application individually and consult their law enforcement counterparts in the United States before granting approval.

The BVI and the United States Virgin Islands have a visa waiver arrangement that allows eligible BVI nationals to travel through the USVI and to the United States mainland without obtaining a standard visa, once they meet the required criteria.

BVI travellers have encountered separate difficulties with the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation in recent years. In 2023, officials confirmed that some applications were denied because travellers’ return to the territory had not been properly recorded, creating the inaccurate impression that they had remained in the United States. The Deputy Governor’s Office later advised travellers to use the same passport when entering and leaving the United States.

“The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is committed to facilitating appropriate administration of the scheme, working in partnership with partners in the interest of mutual safety and security,” the RVIPF stated.