Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Aug 08, 2025

Automated Passport Control kiosks launched @ TB Lettsome Airport

Automated Passport Control kiosks launched @ TB Lettsome Airport

The Immigration Department of the Virgin Islands (VI) has launched Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to expedite entry for returning VI citizens holding [British] Virgin Islands or United Kingdom (UK) passports to the Territory.

The APC kiosks, launched via a brief ceremony at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Friday, August 19, 2022, will enable 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.

The Immigration Department of the Virgin Islands (VI) on Friday, August 19, 2022, launched its Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to expedite entry for returning VI citizens holding [British] Virgin Islands or United Kingdom (UK) passports to the Territory.


'We want to ensure a seamless process'- Hon Rymer


Deputy Premier Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), who was Acting Premier at the time of the launch, said, “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.”

Honourable Rymer also acknowledged the hard work of the Immigration Department, who “worked tirelessly” during the height of COVID-19, adding, “We look forward to the launch of the additional phases of the [border management system].”

Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs Carolyn E. Stoutt Igwe, said the kiosks are a significant milestone, “as the Government seeks to enhance services to ensure the best possible experience for residents and visitors, as well as to improve the Territory’s border security.”

'We look forward to next tourist season'- Stoutt Igwe


The permanent secretary also said the launch of the kiosks is timely in preparing for the next tourist season, adding, “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.”

Mrs Stoutt Igwe referred to the launch of the Immigration Department’s Border Management and e-Visa System on December 1, 2020. She explained that since then, the department has launched different services under the Border Management and eVisa System with Friday’s launching of the kiosks being another phase of the project.

What's next?


The Permanent Secretary 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, 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.

The Permanent Secretary concluded her remarks by expressing gratitude to the Canadian Bank Note (CBN) Company officials for their “steadfast assistance” with the project, in addition to the Immigration Department’s team for their hard work in advancing the initiatives.

Kiosk use will eventually extend to other nationalities- Deputy CIO


Commenting on the new kiosks, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Mrs Nadia Demming-Hodge said, “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.”

Mrs Demming-Hodge said that eligibility for the use of the kiosk will extend to other nationalities within a future phase of the project.

Director of Business Development of CBN, Fuencisla Leal-Santiago, thanked the Immigration Department and stakeholders present and said she looks forward to continuing the successful working relationship with the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Increases Reward for Arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro to Fifty Million Dollars
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
OpenAI Launches GPT‑5, Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Embarrassment in Britain: Homelessness Minister Evicted Tenants and Forced to Resign
President Trump nominated Stephen Miran, his top economic adviser and a critic of the Federal Reserve, to temporarily fill an open Fed seat
The AI-Powered Education Revolution: Market Potential and Transformative Impact
Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in Southern China: Over 7,000 Hospitalized
French wine makers have seen catastrophic damage to vines that were almost ready to be harvested after the worst fires in more than 70 years burned through the south of the country
US Lawmaker Probes Intel CEO’s China Ties Amid National Security Concerns
Brazilian President Lula says he’ll contact the leaders of BRICS states to propose a unified response to U.S. tariffs
Trump Open to Meeting Putin as Soon as Next Week, with Possible Trilateral Summit Including Zelenskiy
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau spark dating rumors, joining high stakes world of celeb-politician romances
US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to seek a breakthrough in the Ukraine war ahead of President Trump’s peace deadline
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Karol Nawrocki Inaugurated as Poland’s President, Setting Stage for Clash with Tusk Government
Trump Signals JD Vance as ‘Most Likely’ MAGA Successor for 2028
US Charges Two Chinese Nationals for Illegal Nvidia AI Chip Exports
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
U.S. Tariff Policy Triggers Market Volatility Amid Growing Global Trade Tensions
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
Representative Greene Urges H-1B Visa Cuts Amid U.S.-India Trade Tensions
U.S. House Committee Subpoenas Clintons and Senior Officials in Epstein Investigation
Sydney Sweeney Registered as Republican as Controversial American Eagle Ad Sparks Debate
Trump Accuses Major Banks of Politically Motivated Account Denials and Prepares Executive Order
TikTok Removes Huda Kattan Video Over Anti-Israel Conspiracy Claims
Trump Threatens Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Imports
German Finance Minister Criticizes Trump’s Attacks on Institutions
U.S. Proposes Visa Bond of Up to $15,000 for Some Applicants
U.S. Farmers Increase Lobbying Amid Immigration Crackdown
Elon Musk Receives $23.7 Billion Tesla Stock Award
Texas House Paralyzed After Democrats Walk Out Over Redistricting
Mexican Cartels Complicate Sheinbaum’s U.S. Security Talks
Mark Zuckerberg Declares War on the iPhone
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
×