Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Kenneth Hodge, encouraged persons visiting Anguilla to have their stay extended for up to three months – “to utilise the services we have to offer, spend some money in Anguilla, and contribute to the economy.”
He, along with Permanent Secretary, Dr Aiden Harrigan, met with immigration staff on May 4, 2022 to discuss – among other matters – population growth and the role that immigration can play in this regard. He indicated that they sought to discuss genuine ways to encourage more persons to come to the island and stay for longer periods of time.
The Minister observed: “At the ports, persons can get [a passport stamp of] up to three months at a port of entry. If persons know that they can come [to Anguilla and stay] up to three months at a time, they can factor that in as they make their travel plans.
“Although we are looking at ways to increase those numbers, we are not going to compromise our national security. All the relevant checks and balances will still be carried out. To persons who are looking to come to this island and not follow our laws, we still will be looking for them and dealing with them.”
Minister Hodge reminded persons that to be residing illegally in Anguilla is an offence under Section 233 of the Immigration and Passport Act, “therefore, all those persons should endeavour to have their immigration status regularised, and up-to-date now, as it could also play a contributing factor for them not getting Belonger of Anguilla status.”
The Minister noted that he was in discussions with the Immigration Department concerning the unlawful residence of some persons on Anguilla.
He said: “We discussed an amnesty period for persons residing illegally on the island. [Those are] persons not having work permits or immigration time up-to-date.”
Special immigration concessions are being looked into for residents of our neighbouring island, St Martin/St Maarten.
“We want to encourage persons from St Martin/St Maarten to come over and spend more time in Anguilla,” Mr Hodge stated. Therefore, the government is also looking at “amending present immigration policy to allow non-nationals of St Martin/St Maarten – who are legally residing there, and require a visa for Anguilla – to enter without a visa on an ongoing basis,” he noted.
Currently, travel restrictions are relaxed for residents of St Martin/St Maarten to allow them to visit Anguilla during our holidays and festivals. “We would like to make this on an ongoing basis because we want to encourage persons to come over and spend more time in Anguilla,” Minister Hodge said.
