Immigration Dept announces new changes for Entry Permit renewals
According to information released today, November 30, 2020, the Department said, “Individuals who are renewing their Entry Permit for Residing Status must acquire the National Health Insurance (NHI) Certificate of Good Standing."
These include college students and persons residing as a dependent of spouses/parents etc.
However, individuals with an expired Entry Permit for Employment will not be required to obtain an extension of their permit in order to submit the renewal application or collect their Work Permit from the Department of Labour and Workforce Development until December 31, 2020.
It said individuals who are exempted from the requirements of a Work Permit (Work Permit Certificate/Work Permit Exemption Card) and who are renewing their Entry Permit will also be required to submit several documents.
SSB & NHI certificates key with application
These include Certificate of Earnings from Social Security Board (SSB), the National Health Insurance (NHI), and a valid receipt from Inland Revenue as evidence of an application for Certificate of Earnings effective January 1, 2021.
The Department has also announced new policies for those employing Work Permit Exemption holders in the territory.
“Employers of Work Permit Exemption holders must acquire a Certificate of Good Standing or a payment plan from the Social Security Board (SSB), A Certificate of Good Standing or a payment plan from National Health Insurance (NHI) and a valid receipt from Inland Revenue as evidence of an application for Certificate of Good Standing effective 1st January 2021,” the department further said.
In July 2020, Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) warned that any new work permit renewals in the COVID-19 era would be dependent on good NHI and SSB payments.
He said expats would have to return to their homeland if they do not qualify to stay in the territory under the new requirements.
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32 Responses to “Immigration Dept announces new changes for Entry Permit renewals”
Hmmm...saw this coming longtime.
I sympathize with my expat neighbour. Might as well start packing up. Employers get away and are not held accountable. Amazing!
You have bent your backs for your employers and it is no fault of yours that they have been behind on their paymemts to NHI etc... even when they take the money from your pay. You cannot fight what is obvious in the BVI. Need I say more?
I was thinking the same who is advising this $$$$$$$ but dont worry good is good they should be talking to the employer that deduct the money from the employee and dont pay it to social security and inland revenew insted giving to the spanish to build in mingo
Is this the BVI government simply "gett8ng rid of the evidence" by kicking out the people who have been stolen from by employers not making the contributions? it is criminal and makes the BVI government complicit.
how can someone fight their own case against an employer who stole from them if they are kicked off the island.
it is shocking. Government...dont be surprised if you dont end up having to defend a class action lawsuit against you.
unbelievable
You mean after working so hard some times overtime for no overtime pay, my pay slip shows SS, NHI and IR contributions have been deducted every single time. The employer then refuse to pay those contributions to the institutions, the times comes when my work permit is to be renewed and I would be penalized if I cannot present a certificate to prove my compliance and being up to date with my payments? After all, employees are not responsible to submitting the contributions, it is the Employer. Why not hold the Employer responsible?
What would be more palatable is to require the employee to present his pay slips indicating that contributions have indeed been deducted from his wages for the entire year or how ever long he worked during the year. Once that pay slip is presented and the deductions from the employees pay check are confirmed, then that employee should not be refused or rejected to have his work permit renewed. It should then be the responsibility of relevant Gov. dept.to go after the employer to get those deductions or contributions to the respected institution.
After all, why should we be responsible and further penalized for the robbery and injustice and ingenuity of a cheating Employer? Then as you rightly said, we might as well pack up an leave NOW.
What would be your reaction if you were one of us, working, making the contributions or the contributions are being deducted from your pay and the employer is not passing it on as required? WE have clear evidence that those contributions are being deducted.
Please review your rules and consider us the hard workers being short changed first by the employer and second by the Government, your department. Please give peace a chance. A very concerned hard working expat.
The problems that we face in this country is not about the expats it’s about the people who we put in position of authority and if you can’t see our BVI has become an endangered specie And the billionaires around here are the only ones that are going to benefit from having people like that guy and should I say I thought the VIP would have been in office for a very long time but one term they are dead in the water and I campaigned for them never again
WHERE can we read of such measures?
Its just so sad that employees would suffer from these types of measures, because they're not Belongers!
Its obvious that these measures are flawed, and are not in keeping with good governance!
That's pure nonsense.
I can understand if that person is self employed and they haven't made their contributions but not if you are working for a company who deducts monthly or bi-weekly contributions and never pay it in to the government.
That is pure robbery indeed. Then the employee shouldn't suffer.
That employee should also be able to file a lawsuit for highway robbery as long as they could present proof of deductions from their salary. That's why I always keep my pay stubs for at least 1 to 2 years before I shred them.
BVI has a serious problem with JUSTICE. For those of you pretending it does not exist this is the height of CORRUPTION. The funny part is these guys actually believe it is okay as long as you mention Jesus name. This bullshit is so sick its mind boggling. And Brutus is an honorable man.
Is wickedness in high places this is what you call *******n in the highest lord have mercy
Aproximately about eighty or so years ago, our fathers of the Country, many of them earned 25 cents per day. Nowadays, some persons earn Thousands of USA dollars $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ per day, some questionable. I am materially poor native of Tortola, B.V.I. Unlike many, I feel the pain of the many that have toilestly worked to help in the building of this country's wealth. It it justice to us and them that becaused Social Security monies were not paid into the Security Bank for them that they should suffer, because of employers incompotence? Where is the much Hype B.V.I Love for them? Where is the practice of christian's values. This truth should not be taken lightly. Whatsoever seeds are sown on the earth, the trees of there kind will grow. God will water them, if they are good seeds. And the fruits will be good, and very sweet. But if they are evil seeds, Satan will water the trees, and the fruits will be evil, and very bitter. Whatsoever seeds men have and will sow, the fruits of the same will be reaped. Sow good seed of righteousness. God our Creator, our Father and Judge is closely listening and watching our ever move.
God loves us all equally
Our Father who residence in in heaven Holy is Your name. Continue giving us our daily bread. And do forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those that tresspass against us. Lead us not, but if you do, protect from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the glory now and forever, time without end. Amen.
Father, may this be onle for your glory, honor, and praise in Jesus name. Amen.