Persons applying for Belongership are required to do a cultural test as well as be assessed using a points-based approach.

“Where persons score low on the cultural test, yes, it can be looked at that, you know, that person is in the territory for a long period of time and they don’t know anything about the territory. However, it is not outright a disqualifier because, as I said, it is part of a cumulative test from the point system,“ Penn told the Commission of Inquiry (COI) this week.

“We take the point system — the whole point system — into consideration. So the cultural test is part of the point system but [look at] … the cumulative points that are built up,” he added.

The Immigration Chief further explained that factors such as integration into society and whether any criminal or other offences have been committed are also considered as part of the assessment.

Applicants are required to submit a police record to determine whether there are any pending matters, Penn stated.