Visa Unit reports of bombardment & threats
According to the report, an area that was taxing for the department is the culture developed over the years during which the general public had easy access to staff. “As a result, the Visa Unit would constantly be bombarded with calls and sometimes threats. This creates a real security risk for officers,” the report stated.
This was listed as one of the challenges faced by the Unit in 2012. Some of the other challenges were; a) misrepresentation of the facts, b) insufficient supporting documents, c) unemployment in the applicants’ country of residence, d) irregularities with applications and decisions made by the Immigration Department at the ports of entry.
“As a result of these challenges, the department is in the process of reforming the Unit so that we can be on par with our UK and Overseas Territory counterparts in the way we handle visa matters. Assistance is being sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Border Agency to bring all the other Overseas Territories in compliance with new changes. This is expected to be finalized by the end of 2013,” the report highlighted.
Outstanding check!
On the issue of passports, the Passport Unit noted that it still has an outstanding check of $25, 500.00 with 3M for the 2012 Annual Maintenance Fee for the passport system. “This check cannot be collected because the government is financially strapped, so this is one of our major challenges.”
It also noted that since the change in the passport equipment in 2007, to date applicants are still refusing to comply with the requirements to submit original supporting documents for the renewal of their Virgin Islands passports. This, it said, creates a burden on the office when nationals from other countries produce their documents, for the current passport system is designed to accommodate original documents only, as a safety measure.
There were some 2038 Virgin Islands passports issued in 2012, a slight increase when compared to 2011 when 2003 Virgin Islands passports were issued.
Naturalization
During 2012, 44 persons were naturalized as British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTCs); whereas 62 children were registered as British Overseas Territories Citizens. This was an 18.87 decrease in persons naturalized as British Overseas Territories Citizens when compared to the previous year.
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Maybe it is time for you and your friends go back home before our attitudes get more "attitudinal."