INFLUX OF RESIDENCY AND BELONGERSHIP APPLICATIONS POSING ISSUES FOR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

An influx of residency and belongership status applications is creating challenges for the government as it implements the COI Recommendations. 

His Excellency Governor John Rankin noted this issue in his first Quarterly Report to the United Kingdom on the Implementation of the COI Recommendations.

“I am aware that a number of individuals have experienced difficulties with applications made since June, including not being given receipts for submission. I have raised this with the premier as the Minister responsible for Immigration. I understand that the increase in the number of applications received in the period under review has posed some challenges for the immigration Department”, he said.

The sudden rush in applications followed the National Unity Government’s decision to do away with the policy guiding eligibility for such applications after the previous 20-year policy was deemed unlawful.

The territory has since returned to recognizing the existing legislation which stated that the residency threshold is 10 years, half of what was stated in the policy, making many more newly eligible people.

Governor Rankin said that at this stage he is not fully satisfied with what is unfolding.

Nonetheless, he noted the importance of remaining steadfast.

“It is important that the government fully implements its commitment to follow existing legislation on the residency threshold and to accept and process applications on that basis, pending completion of the review under COI Implementation B33”.