Monday, March 31, 2008Moving to the BVI

Sachkia BarnesA summary of the moving process

Work Permit and Immigration Matters

Once you have found your ideal job in the British Virgin Islands, if you are not a citizen of the BVI, you must obtain a work permit. This permit allows you to legally work in the Territory for a specific employer. Even if individuals plan to work for a few months, a Temporary Work Permit must be obtained. While work permits are being processed, perspective employees must reside outside of the BVI.

Work permit applications are filed by the employer and not the employee. A new work permit application form must be filed with supporting documents, such as:

• cover letter from employer
• perspective employee’s resume
• proof of qualifications for the job
• copy of newspaper advertisement of the job
• 1 passport sized photo of applicant

Work permit applications are processed within 30 working days. Once the work permit is approved, the application is forwarded to the Immigration Department. Immigration then grants a clearance letter which will be used by the employee to enter the Territory. The employer will be given the clearance letter and a medical form to forward to the employee. A thorough medical must be done and a medical certificate granted before entering the BVI. Once the employee enters the Territory, the medical certificate must be approved by the BVI Health Services> If any additional vaccinations or test is needed to be done, this can be done by the Government’s health clinic. It is important to note that citizens of particular countries must obtain a visitor’s VISA to enter the British Virgin Islands. This can be obtained at the nearest British embassy in the applicant’s home or residing country. A full list of qualifying countries can be obtained from the Deputy Governor’s Office website at www.dgo.gov.vg. Additionally, while the need for passports to enter the BVI for United States and Canadian citizens have been extended; citizens of those countries are urged to obtain passports to enter the BVI. Upon entering the BVI, all expatriates must have a return ticket to their home country.

Once in the BVI, the employee can receive their work permit by visiting the Labour Department. The Territory's new work permit cards are a highly sophisticated holographic cards, that can also be used as a pictured identification card and are the size of a regular bank card. It is very important that work permit holders have their work permit cards on their person at all times.

Once the card is received, employees must take the card and job letter to the Immigration Department. There a stamp is placed in the employee’s passport showing that the employee is a legal resident of the BVI. Once this process is done, employees are legally permitted to work, reside and travel in and out of the British Virgin Islands.

Telephone: Labour Department 284 468 3701 ext. 4708/ 4780

Immigration Department 284 468 3701 ext. 4700/ 4770

Social Security
Social Security is a compulsory insurance plan to which employers, employees, self employed individuals must contribute. It is designed to protect insured persons from financial distress by providing partial income replacement when particular contingencies arise. Sickness, maternity, invalidity, age, funeral, survivor’s and employment injury benefits are paid to qualified persons.All working individuals between the ages of 15 and 65 years must register with the Social Security Board and obtain a BVI Social Security card. This is a one time registration. To register, persons must fill out an Employee’s Registration Form and submit proof of birth, i.e. birth certificate or passport. Forms may be collected and filed at the Board’s office in Road Town. Social Security payments are mandatory. Contributions for private employees and sel-employed persons are 81/2 percent of insurable earnings. Employees contribute 4 percent of that total and 41/2 percent is contributed by employers. Civil servants contribute 71/2 percent; 31/2 percent by employee and 4 percent by Government. Social Security contributions can also be voluntary for persons who have worked in the Territory and are living abroad or for persons who no longer work but are not at the eligible age of 65 to collect benefits. This contribution is 7 percent of earnings established by the Board.Telephone: Social Security Board 284 494 3418

Travelling to the British Virgin Islands

The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport is located on Beef Island. It is the Territory's main airport with internationally recognised airport code, EIS. Some travellers fly into the United States Virgin Islands’ island of St. Thomas at the Cyril E. King International Airport, code STT. After arriving at this airport take a 5 minute taxi ride to the waterfront ferry terminal in Charlotte Amalie where you can catch various ferries over to the BVI. The ferry ride is usually 45 minutes to West End, Tortola or 60 minutes to Road Town, Tortola. In St. Thomas, persons may also travel via sea plane to the BVI’s Sister Island of Virgin Gorda. If you choose to arrive in the BVI, via the USVI, you must clear immigration in the British Virgin Islands.

Shipping to the BVI
Shipping personal effects from home furniture, personal goods and even vehicles can easily be done through a shipping agent in the Territory. Once you have identified the agent you would like to use, that agent will inform you of the closest company to your address in your home company that you can have items delivered to or packed for pick up. As the sender, you must provide shipping agents with a list of items to be shipped as well as their estimated costs.Make certain you receive all documents and agreements pertaining to your shipment from the partnering agent in your home country in order to retrieve your goods once they have landed in the BVI. After that has been completed, items are then shipped to the Territory. Once they have arrived you will be notified by the local shipping agent who will sign release forms to be presented to port authority and Customs officials to clear your items.
The cost of shipping items to the Territory varies widely. Ensure that you research estimates from companies before deciding on a final shipping agent. Once your items arrive in the Territory, you will only then be charged for the service. It is always recommended to insure items with the shipping agent.

To declare goods with Customs you must have an itemised list of goods shipped and their costs. Government waves up to $1000 for new residents on goods imported. The following is a break down of duty charges for other items:

• Vehicles 20%
• Household goods/furniture 15%
• Electronics/ computer hardware 15%
• Clothing 10%
• Reading materials 0%

Telephone: Her Majesty’s Customs 284 468 3701 ext. 6800/ 6802

Mail
Though the Territory does not have home mail boxes, the mailing service is much like most postal services world wide. Without a private mail box, persons can collect mail sent to them at their community post office. Residents may apply for private mail boxes by submitting an application with the BVI Postal Service at the main Post Office in Road Town, Tortola. The annual cost for these mail box rentals is $35 for a letter size box.

In 2006 the BVI launched its internationally recognised postal codes. These postal codes allow other mail services to have an exact and distinctive code for the Territory. This works just the same as zip codes in the United States and postal codes in the United Kingdom and Canada. This allows mailing companies to process mail to be shipped to the Territory more efficiently. Ultimately, this allows residents in the BVI to obtain their mail in a more timely manner.

Residents in the BVI can also obtain United States mail boxes through various companies in the BVI. This allows persons to have their international mail sent to a US post box and delivered by their hired company to the BVI. This is an excellent resource when ordering items online or to receive mail quickly from the United States. Major courier companies such as UPS, FedEx and DHL also operate in the BVI.

Telephone: Post Office 284 468 3701 ext. 4996

Housing
The real estate market in the BVI is growing steadily. At times it may seem difficult to find your right home in paradise, but with persistence and a good realtor, in no time you can be listening to the waves, watching the sun come up from the hill tops or living in a town that still has more greenery than most in other parts of the world.

Unlike some countries, the British Virgin Islands does not have a Housing Authority. Prospective tenants and home owners are responsible for finding living arrangements and negotiating the best rent and lease. Many landlords offer short term lease to accommodate the Territory’s migrant labour force. The average starting rent of a two bedroom apartment in the BVI is approximately $800. Most land lords require two months rent as a refundable deposit along with proof of income - such as a job letter, before renting to new tenants.

If you are in the market to purchase or build a home, all expatriates must obtain a Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence. The application process is managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour. To obtain this licence the following documents are needed with a completed application form:

• a police certificate
• four consecutive newspaper clippings of the property’s sale ad
• a valuation report of the property
• a financial statement showing one year of banking practices
• two references
• sale agreement for the property
• proposed purpose of property
• a detailed description and time table of any works to be done on the property.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour reserves the option to ask for additional supporting documents from applicants. A non refundable fee of $200 is required for processing of the application. For corporate groups the application fee is $500. The average processing time for a Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence is 12 to 14 weeks.

Once a licence is granted, property owners must follow development agreements that were stated when applying for a licence. Failure to do so may result in a fine of 40 percent of the cost of the property of forfeiture of the property. Property taxes are payable annually to the Government’s Inland Revenue Department.

If home owners are seeking to rent their property, non-belongers or persons that are not citizens of the BVI, must seek permission from the Ministry before undertaking such a venture.

Telephone: Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour 284 468 3701 ext. 2147/ 2137
Inland Revenue Department 284 468 3701 ext. 2155/ 3140

Transportation
The British Virgin Islands does not have a public transportation system. However, taxi services may be called from any location on islands. Various ferry services operate inter-island shuttles throughout the major islands of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. Plane services may also be obtained to travel from Tortola to Anegada and Virgin Gorda.

Driver’s Licence
Visitors to the BVI may obtain a Temporary Driver’s Licence from the Licensing Department or car rental companies. For $10, drivers will get a temporary licence that is good for 3 months. If stopped by authorities, visitors must have this temporary licence along with their passport.

If you plan to live and drive in the BVI for longer than 3 months, a BVI driver’s licence must be obtained. To obtain such a licence, once the temporary licence has expired, driver’s must file an application at the Vehicle Licensing Department, along with supporting documents; work permit, passport, BVI Social Security card, and temporary licence. Additionally, a written driver’s test must be taken. The written test is administered from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily. Once a driver passes this test, a BVI licence will be granted.

If a new resident is importing a vehicle into the Territory or purchasing a vehicle in the BVI, the vehicle must be registered and licensed in the BVI. Drivers may purchase licence plates from the Vehicle Licensing Department, then have the car insured and inspected before the car is registered and qualified to be driven in the BVI.

Telephone: Vehicle Licensing Department 284 468 3701 ext. 4938/ 4939

Banking
The British Virgin Islands hosts a variety of private and public banks that are recognised internationally. Some of these institutions are:

• Banco Popular
• Scotia Bank
• First Bank
• First Caribbean
• VP Bank

Presently the BVI does not host any credit unions.

Once becoming a resident of the BVI, to obtain a bank account, persons are required to show proof of identification, passport as well as a social security card. Some banks allow residents to use a United States social security card when registering for an account.

Account holders may then begin to build a financial identity within the BVI’s banking system. Persons may apply for credit cards, loans and mortgages and even consolidate accounts from their previous country of residence.

Health Services
Health care in the British Virgin Islands remains relatively inexpensive to consumers in comparison with other developing Territory’s. Peebles Hospital, the main hospital servicing the BVI is on the island of Tortola. Presently the hospital is being developed into a major health resource for the BVI. This includes renovations to the existing structure as well as building more rooms and improving the technology used at the facility.

A number of private clinics also service residents of the BVI. These clinics have on staff senior medical professionals that are general doctors as well as practising physicians in a wide range of specialisations such as gynaecology and obstetrics, cardiology as well as dermatology.

Supporting these clinics are various private pharmacies with competitive pricing for the latest medicines.

Education
There is a wide variety of child care facilities in the BVI. Day care centres accept children as young as 4 months old. The cost of this type of care ranges from $160 to $300 monthly.

The average school year begins in early September and ends in late June. Children that will be at least 5 years old within the school year and up to 16 years old are required by law to attend some form of matriculating educational facility, this also includes home schooling by a child’s parent.

If expatriate parents are travelling with children to take up residency in the BVI, the parents must seek permission from the Immigration Department to have the child in the BVI for the purpose of attending school. There is a separate application to have the child enrolled in the school system. When in the BVI, the Education Department will facilitate the processing of applications for entrance into the BVI school system. It is important to note that if a parent plans to enrol a child in a private institution or home school their children, they must also register with the Education Department. Parents are then responsible for the filing of applications at private institutions.

Parents have a choice of two schools when entering the public school system. While there are numerous primary schools, there is only one public secondary school on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada. Students living on Jost Van Dyke must commute to Tortola to attend high school.

The following information about the child or children is required when applying to attend public schools:

• list of previous schools attended
• birth certificate
• immunisation card
• school report or transcript
• BVI Health Services authorisation of child’s immunisation card

Of the parents, the following documents are needed:

• work permit card
• passport
• contact information

Once the child is approved by the Education Department to attend a public school, a letter is sent to the Immigration Department and the appropriate authorisation is placed in the child’s passport, declaring the child a legal resident of the BVI.

There are a number of private primary and secondary schools in the BVI. Tuition for such schools starts at $300. Parents wishing to home school their children are required to submit a course outline as well as the home school programme they intend to follow.

Closing dates for school registration are April 30 for entrance beginning in September of the same year and November 30, for entrance in January of the upcoming year.

The Territory currently has two tertiary institutions. Students may obtain accredited associates degrees from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College as well as certification for various courses. The BVI also hosts a campus site for the prestigious University of the West Indies. Students are able to enrol in classes and participate in face to face as well as teleconference and distance learning courses. Applications to attend these institutions are available at their offices on Tortola.

Telephone: Education Department 284 468 3701 ext. 2036/ 2037

Library Services
There are five public libraries in the BVI that are located on the Territory’s four main Islands. Two on Tortola; in Road Town and East End, one on Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. To obtain a permanent library card, persons must be residing in the Territory for at least 6 months. If visiting the Territory for shorter than six months, visitors may obtain a temporary card by paying a refundable fee of $5 and submitting the name of one reference that can return borrowed books in your absence.

Telephone: Library Services 284 468 3701 ext. 4931/ 4932

Oyster Publications Inc, PO box 3369, Road Town Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG1110