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Education Ministry taking proactive steps in light of US student visa restrictions

June 4th, 2025 | Tags: Virgin Islands education HLSCC UK USA student visa
Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) said her ministry has taken a proactive, forward-looking response to recent and concerning developments in the United States, where the current U.S. administration has temporarily halted certain categories of student visa processing. Photo: YouTube
The Donald J. Trump administration has ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants. Photo: France 24
The Donald J. Trump administration has ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants. Photo: France 24
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports is taking proactive steps in response to US President Donald J. Trump’s student visa restrictions.

During the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA), yesterday, June 3, 2025, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) informed that she, along with President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), Dr Richard W.E. Georges, engaged in a series of meetings with several tertiary institutions. 

These meetings were held with Barnet & Southgate College, London Metropolitan University, Morley College, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), Richmond American University London, and the University of Westminster.

The main purpose of the trip was to attend the Education World Forum (EWF) in London, held from May 18 to 21, 2025.

Proactive response

Hon de Castro said that while these engagements reflect the real and growing interest of HLSCC graduates in pursuing further studies in the United Kingdom, they represent much more. 

“They also represent a proactive, forward-looking response to recent and concerning developments in the United States, where the current US administration has temporarily halted certain categories of student visa processing.”

The Trump administration has ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.

This move, she continued, has disrupted educational planning for many families and cast uncertainty over the future of Caribbean students seeking to study in the US.

Essential trip

Hon de Castro added that the visit to the UK was not just timely but essential. 

“Virgin Islanders are either British citizens or British Overseas Territories citizens and, under UK law, are classified as home students when studying in the United Kingdom. This legal status allows our students to benefit from "home fee status", a significant tuition reduction compared to the international rates charged to foreign students.”

With home fee status, VI students studying in the UK pay the same tuition as UK nationals, which is currently capped at £9,250 per year for undergraduate programmes. 

12 Responses to “Education Ministry taking proactive steps in light of US student visa restrictions”

  • rattie (04/06/2025, 10:45) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The minister is working and keeping up to the times
  • FEO GOMEZ (04/06/2025, 10:53) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Like my name . know a few things. She definitely was made to be a politician lawyer doctor etc. which is all good. But wow just wow aint getting better at all.
  • Africa is rising (04/06/2025, 11:22) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hurry up and make ties with Burkina Faso.
  • Rubber Duck (04/06/2025, 12:31) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    The main purpose of the trip was to ... get some spending done on the Government credit card, and to enjoy life in a London hotel.
  • hoping (04/06/2025, 12:52) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dr. Georges was there also.
  • Endtimes (04/06/2025, 12:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a hint for these students to start studying their Bibles. Take the hint from Trump and run with it. Things are about to get real bad all around the world, so it's best to stay on the home front. Only God's Word will see you through the difficult times ahead.
  • Godzilla (04/06/2025, 13:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    this woman just gone in government and get big one time mehson.them man didnt need no raise at all mehson

    not like the public care since no one went to march
  • lord o. (04/06/2025, 14:23) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look for options Britain, UWI. Nothing you can do about America. Take your mind off of America. Jump will not change.
  • parent (04/06/2025, 22:33) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I think if you are a BOTC and not a Uk citizen you are now required to pay international fees
  • good move (04/06/2025, 23:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    But we also need to build back Althea scatlife, get rid of mold in the schools, make sure schools have running water everyday, make sure all schools have adequate furniture, make sure each school has a nurse, make sure each school has a support team for students with disabilities like ADHD, dyslexia, parents need to be legally held responsible making sure their child comes to school with what they need, we also need a national bullying policy where parents are held accountable in dollars
  • Styles. (05/06/2025, 15:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So does this tie up with independence talks.


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