Dear Editor,
Antigua and Barbuda’s immigration system is failing the people it is meant to serve. The laws are clear, but the execution has been inconsistent, confusing, and unfair.
The 2022 Amnesty Program is a recent example, where thousands of applicants were left in limbo because the Immigration Department failed to communicate the process effectively.
The Immigration and Passport Act of 2014 requires applicants for residency to maintain at least four years of legal residence. Citizenship by naturalization requires residence, good character, and continuous legal status. Dual citizenship is allowed, and citizenship by investment is available for those with the means. These rules are not the problem. The problem is how they are being carried out.
During the amnesty, over 3,000 people registered and received acknowledgment cards. Many believed those cards granted them residency or citizenship. They did not. By law, the cards were only proof of registration. The Immigration Department never made this clear, and the Chief Immigration Officer has admitted that the misunderstanding was widespread. Today, some of those same people are once again undocumented, at risk of deportation through no fault of their own.
Applicants also report inconsistent treatment. While officials said amnesty participants would receive three-year extensions, many were stamped for shorter periods. Some who applied for both residency and citizenship received approvals for both and were then forced to pay double fees. The costs of residency and citizenship are already higher than the average monthly salary. For working families, these costs make legal status unaffordable.
The delays are another problem. Backlogs dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic are still unresolved. Applications take years to move forward. People are forced to pay for repeated extensions while waiting, creating more financial pressure and eroding trust in the system.
There is also no requirement for new citizens to demonstrate basic knowledge of Antigua and Barbuda. Many do not know the anthem, speak English, or understand the country’s history. Other countries require language and civics tests for naturalization. Antigua and Barbuda should do the same.
These failures carry real risks. People who followed instructions during the amnesty are now undocumented. Inconsistent stamping undermines public confidence. High fees and duplicate charges restrict citizenship to the wealthy. Long delays weaken the credibility of the entire system.
The fixes are straightforward. The Attorney General and Chief Immigration Officer must issue clear, written guidance explaining every stage of the process. Stamp durations must be standardized, and past inconsistencies corrected. Policy on dual applications must be clarified, and double fees eliminated. Fees should be reduced or adjusted to income levels so ordinary residents can afford to regularize their status. The government must commit resources to clear the backlog and publish regular reports on progress. Finally, a citizenship test should be introduced to ensure new citizens have basic knowledge of the anthem, language, and history.
Antigua and Barbuda’s immigration law is sound. The failure lies in execution. Unless the government fixes the inconsistencies, improves communication, and lowers costs, the public will continue to lose faith in the system. Citizenship should not be a matter of wealth or confusion. It should be a matter of law, fairness, and national pride.
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No it is not! Go back to your country where you claim “back a yard nice”
Laws are generally made in good faith and good intentions, it’s always those who carry out those laws that corrupt the entire process.
What’s for thee is not for me!
How many times have you seen those that are in high positions perverting those laws to benefit them.
Laws were not made for rich, but by the rich, and they were made for the poor follow.
Example. J-walking was never made for the rich, because the rich would not be dear seen walking across no street or amongst you peasants.
Think about it.
So yes..poor people will always suffer under the laws that the wealthy has made.
You know in Alabama that there are still laws on the books that state that a black person cannot marry a white?
Yep.. So yes..the laws will always fail the people in a corrupt country or state, and Antigua is one of the most corrupt in the entire Caribbean.
It has been like this for decades.
Look what they have even come to..selling off their citizenship for millions. You think that law was made for the poor, hell no?
So yes sir..the rich will always get the first bite at the apple..the rest of you peasants have to line up in line begging for hours for a little work permit.
‼️‼️
Again, to quote my least liked Judge, Judge Judy,
“You are just a tenant. Nobody is forcing you to live there (or here). If you don’t like it, THEN MOVE!!!!
You get the message loud and clear, you are here to vote and keep them in power how long will it take you immigrants to understand that, with all their talk of Caribbean brothers and sisters that’s all the use they have for you and you love it or catch a flight. I was with in there so I know
No. Non-nationals make up a very tiny percentage of the voters list. Stop spreading lies!!!
You get the message loud and clear, you are here to vote and keep them in power how long will it take you immigrants to understand that, with all their talk of Caribbean brothers and sisters that’s all the use they have for you and you love it or catch a flight. I was in there so I know
Of course Antigua’s immigration system has failed miserably.
It has been abused by the current incumbents in Parliament House to keep them in power whenever they call a General Election. So tragic!
The vetting process should have been rigorously adhered to.
Sadly, Antiguans are witnessing the downsides of unvetted and unsettled immigration.
Gaston Browne has sold out Antigua’s soul to stay in power (and who can forget his “immigration” amnesty for passports to garner votes for the ABLP).
Antiguans are NOW reaping the difficulties that this out-of-kilter Prime Minister has sowed.
The country needs an urgent reset …
,
The immigration system fail the people and empower the politicians, whether ALP or upp.
In the virgin islands you can’t go their and do the things they do hear, a white man could come here and get beach front lands and have the government go to parliament and do buffer zone to keep plack natives far unless to do domestic work like gardeners and maids. And get complimentary police and army protection to shoot the black people if they go swim on the beaches the Gaston brown administration declared in parliament for white people only.
Also the labor and immigration department don’t protect Antiguans in no way, a time a go I gave a Jamaican a job to drive my truck, and he ran it in a pole and upon his termination, he jeered me in town and pointed to the labor department office and say I could complain him where I want, in the virgin islands upon been terminated you are instantly picked up by immigration for deportation. But both party giving them citizenship for votes.
Antigua is a politician pig chaff.
The immigration system had failed for the following reasons:
1 Too many undesirables are allowed into the country.
2 Extension are way to easy to obtain.
3 No visitor should be given a work permit.
4 After the landing time expire immigration should ensure visitors depart.
5 Residency should be based on the applicants contributions to nation building.
6 To many senior officers including the head do not wear uniform therefore the department is not taken seriously. Can you imagine the Police Commissioner addressing an audience in his CVS instead of the authoritative uniform that intimidates by looking at it?
In 2022, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda offered an amnesty program for non-nationals who were eligible to regularize their status. Many of us applied in good faith, followed the requirements, paid the fees, and waited patiently—because we were told that the process would take about a year.
Some applicants have since received citizenship, while others were granted residency. But for a large number of us, we are still waiting. For more than two years, we have maintained our status and complied with what was asked of us. Yet instead of clear answers, we are now being told that citizenship will “take time” and, in the meantime, we should apply for a work permit.
This raises serious questions:
• Why were we told one thing in 2022, only to be given a completely different directive years later?
• Why should we now be forced into paying for expensive work permits—especially when a self-employment work permit costs $3,000, which is even more than the cost of citizenship itself?
• How is it fair that people who entered the process with the same expectations are now facing such different outcomes?
• Why is there no transparency or proper timeline for those who are still waiting?
For many of us, this feels like a low blow. We entered the amnesty program with the hope of stability, security, and the chance to fully integrate into Antigua and Barbuda society. Instead, we are left in limbo—uncertain of when or if the promise of citizenship will truly be fulfilled.
@ Former UPP Voter
Where do you live and vote, for you to say such rubbish you have to be the.idiot of all idiot’s. The foreign vote is definitely less but big enough to mek a huge difference. Jus put on you dunce cap. I used to be there so I know how ALP depended on it
@Local foreigner, I wouldn’t worry yourself too much about the amnesty program for your non-national citizenship application.
Obviously when you applied the intention of the government was to create some sort of “non-national” data base for future General Elections.
It seems that in your case you missed the cut.
However, don’t fret or worry yourself to much, because it seems like Prime Minister Browne and his members might be planning for a snap election in the not too distant future, and then your application will be fast tracked before you can say “wow! That was quick Gassston!”
JUST SIT TIGHT … 😉
@Brix.
😂.best joke I got all day.. 🤣
I will also surmise that they were hoodwinked by this broke Administration. They used the foreigners, not only for votes, but to swindle them out of their money.. 😂
Remember around that same time, they were just giving fines to criminals, instead of jail time?
Because this “economic powerhouse” is/were broke, but now it seems they catch themselves, so they abandoned the foreigners.
But you are right, they will soon need their votes..yep..Gatson Browne soon start begging for votes, because we know that’s his top skill, begging.. 🤣