Residents holding the British Virgin Islands or United Kingdom passports are now expected to be processed through immigration at a much more efficient pace when returning to the territory through the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport.
This follows the launch of Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks by the Immigration Department last Friday.
According to the information presented in a media release, the kiosks “will enable the eligible travelers to scan their passports and respond to entry questions. The system performs a facial recognition verification of the travelers which allows them entry into the territory if successful.”
Speaking on the initiative was the Acting Premier at the time Honourable Kye Rymer.
He said the kiosks are all part of the government’s rollout of e-government initiatives.
“We are working with e-Government to make these processes efficient, streamlined, and online…we want to ensure [entering the Virgin Islands] is a seamless process,” he stated.
Rymer commended the work of the Immigration Department during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding “We are working with e-Government to make these processes efficient, streamlined, and online…we want to ensure [entering the Virgin Islands] is a seamless process.”
Also speaking on the initiative was the Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt Igwe who said the launch of the kiosks is timely in preparing for the next tourist season.
She said, “We are a tourism destination, and we are working hard to ensure that we improve our services, as we look forward to the next tourist season.”
The permanent secretary also explained that since the launch of the Immigration Department’s Border Management and e-Visa System on December 1, 2020, the department has launched different services under the Border Management and e-Visa System with Friday’s launching of the kiosks being another phase of the project.
She said the system’s next phase entails the launch of the small vessel and aircraft portal which will allow pre-clearance for private/charter vessels, day trippers, and private/charter aircrafts.
Additionally, she revealed that the Entry and Debarkation (ED) cards online processing is underway.
“I hope everyone is as excited as I am and will pray for the Immigration Department as they continue to transform our experience at our borders,” Mrs. Stoutt Igwe said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Mrs. Nadia Demming-Hodge said the eligibility for the use of the kiosk will extend to other nationalities within a future phase of the project.
“This proven technology is widely used throughout the Caribbean region and internationally and is designed to reduce the wait time upon arrival while securely vetting the traveler,” she stated.