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Passports options for Bajans abroad
Published on: 7/16/2009.
BARBADOS machine readable passports are to be issued to nationals who apply at this country's embassies and consulates overseas.
An official statement said the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would shortly embark on the programme which will see Government extending the issue of the new format.
This will ensure that Barbados complies with the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Authority that all travellers should have a machine readable passport by November 2010.
As of July 15, a pilot programme was undertaken with the Barbados Consulate in New York, the mission which issues the largest number of passports overseas. Following the pilot phase, it is expected that the programme will be rolled out at all of Barbados' overseas missions from October 15.
The final preparation and printing of machine readable passports will be centralised at the Immigration Department in Bridgetown. Overseas Barbadian nationals should therefore be aware that processing time will be increased to take account of this fact.
They should allow up to six weeks for the processing of their new machine readable passports, and should submit their applications to the nearest consulate or embassy well in advance of their intended date of travel.
Overseas nationals who are still in possession of a valid, old format handwritten passport, and who have plans to travel to Barbados before its expiry date, are encouraged to apply for their new passport while in Barbados. They should do so immediately on arrival to allow the Immigration Department sufficient time to expedite their application.
The new Barbados machine readable passport will be valid for ten years and is not renewable. The fee for this passport issued overseas will remain the same, but a processing charge will be applied to cover the additional expenses for the transporting of the passports between headquarters and missions. (BGIS)
28 comment found!
Two Passports : 7/23/2009
You can have Dual Citizenship without having two passports.But one of the rules of dual citizenship is that one country cannot represent you if you find yourself in trouble in your other country of citizenship.If you go into a country using one passport and then exit, using the other passport, the immigration may assume that you enter the country illegally, and you may incur unnecessary delay or detention.
passports : 7/23/2009
One passport is what one should have..no more.. - you are either/or a Bajan, American, Canadian etv... not both Having dual citizenships causes so much headache and are often used for convenience but not for the right reasons -ie travelling overseas back to your original country on your original passport but when you get into trouble - use your 'new citizenship/passport" to get you out of trouble... In this day of terrorism etc it is necessary to have readable documents, photos verified and signed for ... wont stop forgeries etc but will at least make it more difficult ! Not a dual citizen
Passports options for Bajans abroad : 7/23/2009
This should be title Bajans abroad getting Rip off by licensing authority.This is a small issue to me wants you are residance in a country with legal papers all is ok but license for driving is a stress issue.Now i born string cut bury Bajan.I took a opportunity many years ago to come to the centre of Europe to try take my creative skills to an other level but this was not easy as a black caribbean in white man ball court world but i fought with my skills and show them that stereotyping me is just they ignorance of a colour thing but my creatvity took them over now I have my own business was not easy just like writing across to computers and produce a media piece this is where my writing mistakes come from I am doing it now building a web site and writing to you people at he same time.Any how getting way from the point I had to renewal my driving license call home they told me how much had photos done and 75euros posted 5 months yet gone by no reply called every month some telephone circit game they play with me running up my phone bill.Call my embassy for Europe found out they are changing the license with plastic and no notice no money refunds and no system in place for us national abroad and they say they have a programm for returning nationals is a bunch of HOG WASHED..We are Doomed by our own sometimes.I am really pissed by this.I must return home for a week go to the pine to have apicture taken.. so I will have to leave all my plan production projects caused I run a studio this works no way.I just pissed of the situation.
More info : 7/22/2009
I'm sorry to be so critical of the writer of this article but the information was presented in a confusing manner and is also insufficient. From the comments below it seems as though machine readable passports have been issued in Barbados from since 2005. To be more clear, the article should have provided that precise date for the readers. From the article, one gets the impression that passports issued locally and overseas are not machine readable. A better job could have been done in explaining that overseas embassies and consulates currently DO NOT issue machine readable passports and that the programme focuses on bringing passports issued overseas up to par. Perhaps a less vague title would have helped "Machine readable passports for Bajans abroad". Lastly information on the cost of passports should have been repeated for the benefit of the reader. This and other information can be found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website www.foreign.gov.bb. New adult passports issued in Barbados are $125 BDS; in Canada $85CAN; in USA $75US; in UK 50 pounds. I hope this information is helpful.
Passportless travel : 7/21/2009
When other countries immigration/security system come on par with that of the USA, there may not be any need in the future for a passport book
passport : 7/20/2009
In response to those who think it is not necessary to have picture verified well it is. Barbados is not the only country that needs verification.
REABLE PASSPORT : 7/20/2009
THIS IS DOWNRIGT STUPIDITY
A liittle insurance : 7/19/2009
I had both a British and a Bajan Passport in Britain,and the only reason was due to the nature of my job. My British Passport was held by my "Company"
Passport, to renew or not to renew... : 7/19/2009
There is really no need for two passports. I have a British passport, my Bajan passport is well expired. I was thinking of renewing it just for sentimental reasons,but otherwise it is not necessary. I still have my ID card, which i suggest others who have one do the same . It is useful to have.
Umm. : 7/18/2009
So if the guy has a passport that he's had for years, he has to get a new one? What about visa to Canada or England??
well well : 7/18/2009
This is crap! I just had mine renewed in January! More money for them again. They had to have known about this before the start of 2009, why didn't they start issuing new ones earlier???? SO TYPICAL.
Passports : 7/18/2009
There is no need for two passports. I found out recently that even though I have an American passport I can still go through the Bajan National line with my family beccause I was born in Barbados as indicated on my paperwork that I fill out on the plane. Keeping up with two passports is time consuming.
passports : 7/18/2009
Why is it that Barbados still requires a signature on your passport pictures? I see this as unecessary. The people who sign them really don't you from Adam sometimes. I think this is an unecessary step and waste of time. You are implementing computerized passports but still need verification on pics.
Passports ... : 7/18/2009
Amen ... somebody is using their God given talent!
PASSPORT ISSUES! : 7/18/2009
From what little I know about such matters, I don't think dual citizens are required to have two passports. Some people like to have a B'dos PP along with one issued by their adopted country, mostly for sentimental reasons I guess. Nothing wrong with that. Plus it's not against the law. When travelling to a Caribbean island, I usually use my Bim PP which was issued in '05 and machine readable. When going to the US, an American one. By the way, do you know when travelling to the US on an American PP, one has the choice of whether or not to have the entry date stamped? Safe travelling, everyone.
Passport Options : 7/17/2009
Susan ,my Barbados Passport expired some 10/15 years ago. I have traveled extensively on my British Passport.Personally I do not see the need to hold two passports.
: 7/17/2009
I'm a little confused here, because the article seems to suggest that these machine readable passports are NOT yet being issued. I got a new passport in early 2007, it's valid for 10 years and when I travel, I observe that immigration agent slides it through a small machine to pull up my details. I guess I already have a machine readable passport but now I'm not sure. Please clarify if machine readable passports are already in circulation. BenG
Passport Options : 7/17/2009
I have a Barbados passport which expired years ago. do i need to apply for a new one or continue to use my British one to travel?
new passports : 7/17/2009
I have my Barbados ID card and my birth certificate. My passport expired years ago, and I have a valid US passport. Do I really need a Barbados passport??
new passport : 7/16/2009
i just renewed my passport in barbados in 2008; do i have to pay for a new machine readable or is it already machine readable
New Passports : 7/16/2009
New Passports. Surely the Consulates would have been aware in advance of the proposed changes. What happens to people who have just renewed passports in the present format? Four months a go as a matter of fact.Would it not have been better to advise that if not necessary for immediate travel passport renewal ought to be delayed.Will passport holders who convert to the new format after just renewing under the old format be given a prorated fee for the conversion ? From where I sit I just can't see a Bajan on a short holiday or short visit to the island spending time trying to get a new passport. Furthermore I don't believe Barbados has the resources to meet the onsite demand from visitors when it is going to take 6 weeks through an overseas mission.It would seem that more clarity /thought is required to facilitate the conversion process.Getting a passport is not cheap
Finally : 7/16/2009
I am a Bajan living in Malaysia, and I had to send mine and my wife's passport all the way back to Barbados because the old passports had run out of pages. After finding out that we had embassies in Singapore, Hong Kong and all over the world, I could not believe that none of these consulates or embassies could issue new passports. Even worse, there is no website to download the passport application forms....in this day and age, the forms have to be posted. So add that into your application time!! What do these embassies and consulates do....about time to have CARICOM embassies and stop wasting money with these useless individual island overseas missions. Ken G
Turnover time : 7/16/2009
Usually takes 3 weeks folks. Maybe you can make a case for urgency or just spend 4 weeks in your homeland. Attorneys, priests bankers and doctors are included in those who can certify. Take it to Immigration Dept, Wharf Rd. Bridgetown. P.S. Please don't use the application form available online. They don't accept it. I made this mistake. They said it was put online for "promotional purposes only". Bon't you just love Barbados???
Home and Abroad : 7/16/2009
What about home based Bajan nationals who need to travel.Don't they need a MR passport as well,or am I missing something here?
New Passports : 7/16/2009
My passport has been expired for a few years, since Canada was taking only machine readable. I would depart on my Canadian PP and use my Barbados on arrival. If I am in B'Dos for a couple of weeks can I have a new one? Will it be mailed to me In Canada? Thanks. Ego
options for Bajans abroad : 7/16/2009
What are the minimum numbers of days to upgrade from old/new? What documentations do i need to apply for the new passport? Who can legally sign my passport pictures? with this in hand where do i take it in Barbados? Old time bajan qualified for citizenship in my adopted country but as long as i have a Barbados passport i need no more.BARBADOS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. "ASK ANY GUYANESE.
another life is lost : 7/16/2009
This is the second fatality in two weeks by a Transport Board bus. Some of these Bus drivers are no different from the ZR operators when it comes to speeding and no regard for the bicylist and pre- destrians. I can speak of the Bay Street, Beckles Rd.route the City Circle routes I sometimes wonder what all the hurry is for.I would like to know if the faster they complete the journey if the would get time something for it.I watch these buses passing less than a foot from people who is almost in the gutter. I think that these drivers should be going to Atlantic City or some long distance journey. I know accidents will occur, but with the speed these buses are driven there is no chance of survival when you get struck by one of these buses.The Transboard should send out decoys to observe how the buses are driven. They would be people at a bus stop and if you don`t put your hand the driver would not stop.A person may not be able to read the destination for what ever reason or it could be a visitor. I think these bus operators could do with some regular training. Brooklyn.
Passports options for Bajans abroad : 7/16/2009
Questions: Would it matter if your passport has expired for a number of years. Can I get a renewal in Miami? What are the process of registering the children of overseas barbadians ?
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