Immigration Dept. processed 2314 visitors’ extension in 2010 alone!
According to the 2010 Immigration Department’s annual report laid before the House of Assembly by Minister for Immigration and Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith at the 9, October 2012 sitting, the report paints a different picture.
Figures for 2010 show that some 865 persons were processed via clearances at the Headquarters on Tortola for the purpose of employment and residing. On Virgin Gorda in 2010, another 173 were processed for the same purposes, for a total of 1038 in 2010.
At a time when Virgin Islanders unemployment is at an all time high in 2010 another 904 clearance was processed by the Immigration Department for the purpose of temporary employment where persons are employed for a period of six (6) months or less.
According to the 2010 report, this category of workers leave the Territory on completion of their assignments, however, what should be alarming to Virgin Islanders is that many of the temporary expat workers were retained throughout the years “especially in the areas of auditors, barristers, technicians, yachting, banking and trust”, areas where locals are still shut out or doing the bottom of the scale work.
2314 visitors seeking extensions of their permits
Another issue, and interesting numbers raised by the Immigration Department in its 2010 report, was the number of visitors seeking extensions to landing permits. In 2010 there were over 2314 requested by visitors for an extension on their visit to the Virgin Islands.
Of that number, 1838 were made on Tortola and another 476 visitors applied for extension on Virgin Gorda. The report stated that it has been discovered that a high percentage of visitors who seek further extension are in fact seeking employment. The report said that because the economic situation in the Territory in 2010 was among the best in the region it was extremely difficult to control illegal employment.
Immigration Dept calls for Labour Dept to properly investigate & scrutinise work permits
In an interesting rebuke by the Immigration Department in their 2010 report to the Labour Department, they have called on Labour to review its work permit processing procedures.
It stated that the above figures indicated that in spite of the recession, persons are still entering the Virgin Islands at a fairly consistent rate.
However, the Chief Immigration Officer stated in the report that, “I am, however of the view that if applications for (especially for annual work permits) are scrutinised and investigated more thoroughly, the numbers could be justifiably reduced.”
6 official Ports of Entry recognised by the Immigration Department
Meanwhile, according to the 2010 report and in accordance with section 49 of the Immigration and Passport Ordinance Cap 130, there are 6 ports of entries recognised by the Immigration Department.
They are located at Road Town, West End, Beef Island, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke and Anegada.
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13 Responses to “Immigration Dept. processed 2314 visitors’ extension in 2010 alone!”
We need more people like Mr. Jennings to speak up and stop Labour from giving away our country