It's been a while since I've written anything in the Tortola, Ho! series, but I realized the other day that, aside from the Medical Certificate, I never really discussed what's involved in getting a work permit to come to the BVI. The process can vary a little, depending on where you're coming from, but is a pretty simple deal overall.
The first step in getting a work permit is getting a job. Before you even begin to make an application, you have to have a deal with your employer, as it is actually the employer who is applying for the work permit on your behalf.
Ideally, your employer has already been running an ad for your position in the BVI Beacon, and at this point you can go ahead and get started on your work permit paperwork. Many employers, though, will wait until they find the right candidate before they run the required advertisements. If this is the case, the employer will need to run ads for two consecutive weeks in the Beacon. After these have run, you can get started filling out your paperwork.
The full application can be found here. It's a pretty simple fill-in-the-blank form. It's mostly asking for your personal details (name, address, date of birth, etc.) and details of the employment. Part of the key to filling this out is to be as detailed as possible about your job qualifications, to make it clear to the Department of Labor that only YOU can fill the position. You should also attach a resume, any awards and college transcripts, etc. to the application. Most employers here in the BVI are familiar with the process, and will help you fill out the forms appropriately.
The forms are then submitted for processing. It used to take about 4-6 weeks to process a new work permit application, but the recent change in government has seen new work permits taking about 3 months to process, so be aware.
Depending on where you're coming from, you may also have to apply for a Visa with the Department of Immigration in order to enter the country. Most Europeans and North Americans do not need to apply, but a full list of countries requiring an immigration Visa can be found on the Governor's website. If you are a national of a country for which a visa is required, the full visa application is also available online. You'll want to submit this at the same time you submit your work permit. Again, your employer can help you with any questions you have.
Once your work permit has been approved, congratulations! Get your medical certificate and police records in order, and come to the BVI!
Showing posts with label TortolaHo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TortolaHo. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Immigration Update
The National Democratic Party won the elections in November, and as was anticipated, there have been several changes to the immigration and work permit policy since the new government took office on the 1st of January.
The first major change announced was the removal of long-term Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard, and her replacement by Janice Rymer. There is also discussion that Chief Immigration Officer Dennis Jennings may be replaced as well.
The expectation is that Ms. Rymer will help institute a more belonger-focused Department of Labour, and be less likely to grant special permissions to foreigners, an expectation being reinforced by the series of "town hall" meetings on labour that Deputy Premier Kendrick Pickering has been holding in the new year. As noted in the statement, Dr. Pickering intends to address four major issues at these town hall meetings, including the change in personnel, but most importantly for potential new immigrants, "reviewing the policy for granting of new work permits".
I have heard rumors that there has been a moratorium imposed on granting of any new work permits until the town hall meetings are complete, but I am unable to find any news or government source to back that up. Nonetheless, there has been a decided slowing in the work permit process, as evidenced by the three months it took to process my renewal permit (as opposed to the customary six weeks).
If you're trying to move to the BVI, keep in good contact with your potential employer about the work permit situation. BVINews.com is a pretty decent, up-to-date resource for government happenings as well.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Stuff
So you've decided to move to Tortola (or elsewhere in the Caribbean) and you've got all your ducks in a row. You've got a job, a place to live, you have your work permit in order and you're working on getting your medical certificate completed. But what are you going to do about your stuff? I mean, it's not like you were living in a vacuum before. I'm sure you have a bed and some couches, probably some kitchen equipment, books, movies, clothes ...
When it comes to stuff, you've pretty much got two choices: leave it or bring it. Since HB and I knew his employer had secured a furnished apartment, and we didn't know how long we would be staying in Tortola, we figured it would be more economical to choose the first option. We left most of our stuff in a storage unit, and moved with two suitcases each.
Many furnished apartments in the BVI will not have "soft goods" like sheets and towels, and often will not have dishes or silverware either, so if you are planning on leaving your stuff, you may want to inquire with the landlord of your furnished apartment exactly what is included.
On the other hand, perhaps you know you love the BVI, and that you will not be leaving for 5 or 10 years, so it is totally worth it to you to bring every last piece of your well-loved stuff. You obviously can't bring a couch on a plane, so it looks like you'll need to ship your things by boat.
Tropical Shipping is the leading freight consolidator for the Caribbean, although Lazarus Services is another option on most Islands. You'll need to have your items properly cased, and preferably already on pallets, and delivered to the consolidator's warehouse in Miami. This means if you live somewhere other than Miami, you'll probably also have to hire movers to get your stuff to Miami. You'll also need to have a complete list of all the items you are shipping and their approximate value so the consolidator can complete a bill of lading. Once in Miami, for about $5 per cubic foot plus lading and brokerage fees, the consolidator will load your stuff into a container, put it on one of their ships, and sail it down to Tortola.
When your stuff lands in Tortola, the consolidator will call you to let you know, so you can go to the port and pick it up. The consolidator will give you all the necessary paperwork (Arrival Notice, Bill of Lading and Shipper's Invoice -- the list of items you gave to the consolidator) for you to take to customs and get your stuff cleared, and pay duty on all the things you're importing. Yes, that's right. In addition to the shipping costs you just paid to your consolidator, you will also be paying customs 15-20% on the value of all your own stuff.
Good luck deciding how much stuff to bring!
When it comes to stuff, you've pretty much got two choices: leave it or bring it. Since HB and I knew his employer had secured a furnished apartment, and we didn't know how long we would be staying in Tortola, we figured it would be more economical to choose the first option. We left most of our stuff in a storage unit, and moved with two suitcases each.
Many furnished apartments in the BVI will not have "soft goods" like sheets and towels, and often will not have dishes or silverware either, so if you are planning on leaving your stuff, you may want to inquire with the landlord of your furnished apartment exactly what is included.
On the other hand, perhaps you know you love the BVI, and that you will not be leaving for 5 or 10 years, so it is totally worth it to you to bring every last piece of your well-loved stuff. You obviously can't bring a couch on a plane, so it looks like you'll need to ship your things by boat.
Tropical Shipping is the leading freight consolidator for the Caribbean, although Lazarus Services is another option on most Islands. You'll need to have your items properly cased, and preferably already on pallets, and delivered to the consolidator's warehouse in Miami. This means if you live somewhere other than Miami, you'll probably also have to hire movers to get your stuff to Miami. You'll also need to have a complete list of all the items you are shipping and their approximate value so the consolidator can complete a bill of lading. Once in Miami, for about $5 per cubic foot plus lading and brokerage fees, the consolidator will load your stuff into a container, put it on one of their ships, and sail it down to Tortola.
When your stuff lands in Tortola, the consolidator will call you to let you know, so you can go to the port and pick it up. The consolidator will give you all the necessary paperwork (Arrival Notice, Bill of Lading and Shipper's Invoice -- the list of items you gave to the consolidator) for you to take to customs and get your stuff cleared, and pay duty on all the things you're importing. Yes, that's right. In addition to the shipping costs you just paid to your consolidator, you will also be paying customs 15-20% on the value of all your own stuff.
Good luck deciding how much stuff to bring!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 7b: Telephones
Once you've unlocked your cell phone, or succumbed to buying a new one, you have three options in cell phone service providers: Digicel; CCT Boatphone; or bmobile (Lime). I have little experience with Digicel, but HB uses CCT Boatphone and I use Lime. Lime's service seems to be better overall with fewer dropped calls and dead spots, but CCT generally has better offers and rates.
All three providers offer monthly plans. I've seen CCT advertise unlimited BVI & international calling (some restrictions apply) for $120 per month. If you're going to be calling internationally frequently, this may be a deal for you. On the other hand, the majority of people on the island use pay-as-you-go, probably for a reason.
Pay-as-you-go rates for on-island calls are about 1-2 cents per minute. On-island texts are 10 cents each (to send or receive). I don't know about data rates, as neither HB nor I have a data-enabled phone. International texts are 20 cents each, and it costs about 30 cents a minute to call the States. One major difference I've noticed between CCT and Lime is that CCT is always around 30 cents a minute, whereas with Lime, the rate goes up during times of heavy usage, and I have paid 55 cents a minute for certain calls.
So if you're going to spend more than six hours per month on the phone for international calls, a monthly service plan is probably your best bet, but I find the flexibility offered by pay-as-you-go to be preferable, as I'm not paying a set amount for the months I'm hardly using my phone.
All three providers offer monthly plans. I've seen CCT advertise unlimited BVI & international calling (some restrictions apply) for $120 per month. If you're going to be calling internationally frequently, this may be a deal for you. On the other hand, the majority of people on the island use pay-as-you-go, probably for a reason.
Pay-as-you-go rates for on-island calls are about 1-2 cents per minute. On-island texts are 10 cents each (to send or receive). I don't know about data rates, as neither HB nor I have a data-enabled phone. International texts are 20 cents each, and it costs about 30 cents a minute to call the States. One major difference I've noticed between CCT and Lime is that CCT is always around 30 cents a minute, whereas with Lime, the rate goes up during times of heavy usage, and I have paid 55 cents a minute for certain calls.
So if you're going to spend more than six hours per month on the phone for international calls, a monthly service plan is probably your best bet, but I find the flexibility offered by pay-as-you-go to be preferable, as I'm not paying a set amount for the months I'm hardly using my phone.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 7a: Telephones
If you're relocating to the BVI, you probably want to know how to keep in touch with your friends and family back home, and what you might expect to spend on phone service. From my experience, landlines are fairly uncommon except for businesses, as they are relatively expensive, and take forever to install. Cell phones, on the other hand, are ubiquitous, and it's estimated that 97% of the population of the BVI has at least one cell phone.
Upon arriving in the BVI, HB's employer took him to Radio Doctor, near One-Mart, in order to get his phone "unlocked". Most phones manufactured in the US are locked so that they can only be used on your service provider's network, or roaming on the networks your service provider authorizes. However, almost any cell phone can be "unlocked" to be compatible with any network.
Radio Doctor, unfortunately, was not able to unlock HB's HTC phone, and so he was forced to buy a new one. He quickly learned how expensive cell phones are in the BVI - $120 for a base model slider. Blackberries typically retail in the BVI for twice what they would in the States, but along with iphones, are some of the easiest to "unlock". My Motorola phone was unlocked within a few hours, and I simply replaced my T-Mobile SIM Card with a Lime SIM Card. The cost for unlocking my phone was $35 and included a $20 credit on my new Lime Pay-as-you-go SIM.
So you've either gotten your phone unlocked, or faced the sticker shock and bought a phone here. What service provider should you choose? How much does a monthly plan cost? If you choose pay-as-you-go, how much will a call cost you? Answers to these questions in the next Tortola, Ho! post.
Upon arriving in the BVI, HB's employer took him to Radio Doctor, near One-Mart, in order to get his phone "unlocked". Most phones manufactured in the US are locked so that they can only be used on your service provider's network, or roaming on the networks your service provider authorizes. However, almost any cell phone can be "unlocked" to be compatible with any network.
Radio Doctor, unfortunately, was not able to unlock HB's HTC phone, and so he was forced to buy a new one. He quickly learned how expensive cell phones are in the BVI - $120 for a base model slider. Blackberries typically retail in the BVI for twice what they would in the States, but along with iphones, are some of the easiest to "unlock". My Motorola phone was unlocked within a few hours, and I simply replaced my T-Mobile SIM Card with a Lime SIM Card. The cost for unlocking my phone was $35 and included a $20 credit on my new Lime Pay-as-you-go SIM.
So you've either gotten your phone unlocked, or faced the sticker shock and bought a phone here. What service provider should you choose? How much does a monthly plan cost? If you choose pay-as-you-go, how much will a call cost you? Answers to these questions in the next Tortola, Ho! post.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Getting Here
After nine months and over two-hundred posts, I can't believe I haven't written about how you might actually transport yourself from your current location to the BVI. There are two main routes into Tortola: by air and by sea. Obviously, since Tortola is an island, you can't exactly get here by land.
For air transport, the Tortola airport is Beef Island International Airport, airport code EIS. If you have a private plane, you can always contact EIS and make the necessary arrangements to fly yourself here. For the rest of us, though, I believe there are only four airlines that fly into EIS: American Eagle; Cape Air; WinAir, and Liat. The general rule is that if you're coming from the Eastern Hemisphere, you will likely fly into Antigua, and then transfer onto a WinAir or Liat flight to EIS. Liat and British Airways are CodeShare partners. If you're coming from the Western Hemisphere, you will likely fly into San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then transfer onto an American Eagle or Cape Air flight to EIS. Cape Air generally works in conjunction with Continental.
Another big option, especially for folks arriving to the BVI from the States, is the sea route. Well, really, it's a combination air and sea route. Most major American airlines fly into the airport on St. Thomas, USVI, airport code STT. From St. Thomas, visitors to the BVI can take a ferry into either West End or Road Town, Tortola. The ferry ride takes about an hour from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town, and costs $30 per person one-way, or $50 per person round trip. The price differential between flying into St. Thomas and flying into Beef Island is usually more than enough to cover the ferry ticket, but the extra hassle of dealing with the ferry, and the potential of having to spend the night in St. Thomas if your flight is not on time, usually makes Beef Island the more convenient option.
Of course, there are other means of getting to the BVI -- by cruise ship; by your own private sailboat or yacht -- but these routes are the ones most commonly used, probably by about 90% of people coming to the BVI for more than a day.
For air transport, the Tortola airport is Beef Island International Airport, airport code EIS. If you have a private plane, you can always contact EIS and make the necessary arrangements to fly yourself here. For the rest of us, though, I believe there are only four airlines that fly into EIS: American Eagle; Cape Air; WinAir, and Liat. The general rule is that if you're coming from the Eastern Hemisphere, you will likely fly into Antigua, and then transfer onto a WinAir or Liat flight to EIS. Liat and British Airways are CodeShare partners. If you're coming from the Western Hemisphere, you will likely fly into San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then transfer onto an American Eagle or Cape Air flight to EIS. Cape Air generally works in conjunction with Continental.
Another big option, especially for folks arriving to the BVI from the States, is the sea route. Well, really, it's a combination air and sea route. Most major American airlines fly into the airport on St. Thomas, USVI, airport code STT. From St. Thomas, visitors to the BVI can take a ferry into either West End or Road Town, Tortola. The ferry ride takes about an hour from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town, and costs $30 per person one-way, or $50 per person round trip. The price differential between flying into St. Thomas and flying into Beef Island is usually more than enough to cover the ferry ticket, but the extra hassle of dealing with the ferry, and the potential of having to spend the night in St. Thomas if your flight is not on time, usually makes Beef Island the more convenient option.
Of course, there are other means of getting to the BVI -- by cruise ship; by your own private sailboat or yacht -- but these routes are the ones most commonly used, probably by about 90% of people coming to the BVI for more than a day.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 6: Pets on the Ferry
The last step in getting the dogs from Florida to Tortola was taking them on the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola. Once they had seen the dogs' permits, Smith's Ferry was more than willing to take the dogs on board, as cargo, at a rate of $25 per crate - the same rate they charge for excess checked baggage.
The permit papers included a request that we call the BVI Department of Agriculture before our arrival and tell a staff member all the relevant details of the dogs' arrival, whether by air or ferry, the flight number if relevant, and the time, so that a vet could meet us, inspect the dogs, and officially allow the dogs into the BVI. Once we knew which ferry we would be on, we tried to comply with this request. We called several times, but no one answered. As the ferry company loaded the dogs on board, HB was finally able to get through, and informed the vet what time and what ferry line we would be coming on. The vet assured us he would meet us at the Road Town ferry terminal.
Since the dogs were considered checked luggage, they were stowed where all the checked luggage is on Smith's ferry -- at the bow of the ship, ahead of the cabin, out in the open air. The ships' rails offer all the security most baggage needs, but the day we traveled, there seemed to be an awful lot of luggage, and the dogs' crates were balanced on top of some of the luggage, the tops of the crates a few inches above the rails. I imagine that Roscoe and Flash had the ride of their lives during that hour-long ferry passage, as they tried to find their sea legs and deal with the spray from the waves.
Finally, finally we reached Tortola. Knowing the dogs would take extra time, we waited for everyone else to pass through immigration and customs before presenting ourselves. Immigration went fine, but when we got to customs, the officer informed us that the vet had not arrived. We presented the permits, stamped and authorized by the BVI Department of Agriculture, and then waited as the customs officer tried to reach one of the vets to come inspect the dogs. After 15 unsuccessful minutes, the customs officer requested that we not let the dogs out of their crates until the vet had a chance to inspect them, and released us into the BVI.
The permit papers included a request that we call the BVI Department of Agriculture before our arrival and tell a staff member all the relevant details of the dogs' arrival, whether by air or ferry, the flight number if relevant, and the time, so that a vet could meet us, inspect the dogs, and officially allow the dogs into the BVI. Once we knew which ferry we would be on, we tried to comply with this request. We called several times, but no one answered. As the ferry company loaded the dogs on board, HB was finally able to get through, and informed the vet what time and what ferry line we would be coming on. The vet assured us he would meet us at the Road Town ferry terminal.
Since the dogs were considered checked luggage, they were stowed where all the checked luggage is on Smith's ferry -- at the bow of the ship, ahead of the cabin, out in the open air. The ships' rails offer all the security most baggage needs, but the day we traveled, there seemed to be an awful lot of luggage, and the dogs' crates were balanced on top of some of the luggage, the tops of the crates a few inches above the rails. I imagine that Roscoe and Flash had the ride of their lives during that hour-long ferry passage, as they tried to find their sea legs and deal with the spray from the waves.
Finally, finally we reached Tortola. Knowing the dogs would take extra time, we waited for everyone else to pass through immigration and customs before presenting ourselves. Immigration went fine, but when we got to customs, the officer informed us that the vet had not arrived. We presented the permits, stamped and authorized by the BVI Department of Agriculture, and then waited as the customs officer tried to reach one of the vets to come inspect the dogs. After 15 unsuccessful minutes, the customs officer requested that we not let the dogs out of their crates until the vet had a chance to inspect them, and released us into the BVI.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 5b: USVI Customs for Pets
After saying goodbye to the dogs on the 17th of August, I flew from Miami to St. Thomas, where I would meet the dogs the next day. The flight Roscoe and Flash were on was due to arrive around 2:30pm on the 18th. HB and I made sure to get to the airport plenty early in order to have time to figure out where to pick up the dogs. When we inquired at the airline's counter, we were told the dogs would be placed on the baggage carousel, along with all other luggage from the flight.
The flight landed on time, and HB and I waited at the baggage carousel until there were no bags left, but there was no sign of Roscoe or Flash. Finally, I went back to the airline's counter and said our dogs hadn't shown up. The employee looked mildly confused before asking if the dogs had been shipped as cargo (something we had explained the first time) and then telling us we had to go to the airline's cargo counter to collect the dogs.
We agreed to pay a taxi driver an exorbitant sum ($80) in exchange for taking us to the cargo counter (2 min ride), waiting for us while we collected the dogs, and then transporting all four of us to the ferry terminal (10 min ride). We arrived at the cargo counter at about 3:10, and could see the dogs waiting patiently in their crates in the cargo bay. Unfortunately, the woman at the cargo desk informed us, the dogs had to be cleared by USVI department of agriculture before she could release them. Now, this was an issue we had researched before we left the states. I had asked the USDA on the phone and they had assured me that there were no import regulations for taking dogs from the US to the USVI. But I wanted my dogs, so I asked what we had to do.
Well, it seemed that the USVI department of agriculture closed at 3:00pm, so we would have to spend the night in St. Thomas and come back the next day to get the dogs, at which point they would have spent well over 24 hours in their crates without relief. There was a long pause. HB started to get his angry face on. Suddenly, the woman at the cargo counter offered a second option. "OR!" she said, "I have someone here in the office who, for a fee of $30, can stamp the paperwork and I can release the dogs to you now." Both HB and I realized we were being scammed -- that there was no USVI department of agriculture clearance requirement -- but as we were already at risk of missing the last ferry to Tortola, we gladly paid the $30 and hoisted the crates into the back of the waiting taxi and high-tailed it to the ferry terminal.
The flight landed on time, and HB and I waited at the baggage carousel until there were no bags left, but there was no sign of Roscoe or Flash. Finally, I went back to the airline's counter and said our dogs hadn't shown up. The employee looked mildly confused before asking if the dogs had been shipped as cargo (something we had explained the first time) and then telling us we had to go to the airline's cargo counter to collect the dogs.
We agreed to pay a taxi driver an exorbitant sum ($80) in exchange for taking us to the cargo counter (2 min ride), waiting for us while we collected the dogs, and then transporting all four of us to the ferry terminal (10 min ride). We arrived at the cargo counter at about 3:10, and could see the dogs waiting patiently in their crates in the cargo bay. Unfortunately, the woman at the cargo desk informed us, the dogs had to be cleared by USVI department of agriculture before she could release them. Now, this was an issue we had researched before we left the states. I had asked the USDA on the phone and they had assured me that there were no import regulations for taking dogs from the US to the USVI. But I wanted my dogs, so I asked what we had to do.
Well, it seemed that the USVI department of agriculture closed at 3:00pm, so we would have to spend the night in St. Thomas and come back the next day to get the dogs, at which point they would have spent well over 24 hours in their crates without relief. There was a long pause. HB started to get his angry face on. Suddenly, the woman at the cargo counter offered a second option. "OR!" she said, "I have someone here in the office who, for a fee of $30, can stamp the paperwork and I can release the dogs to you now." Both HB and I realized we were being scammed -- that there was no USVI department of agriculture clearance requirement -- but as we were already at risk of missing the last ferry to Tortola, we gladly paid the $30 and hoisted the crates into the back of the waiting taxi and high-tailed it to the ferry terminal.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 5a: Flying with Pets
Ready to go in July, we had been surprised by the need for a medical certificate for HB, but by early August we had his test results back, and although we were still waiting on permits for the dogs, we decided it was time for HB to depart. Getting a person and his baggage on a plane is not a big deal; getting the dogs from Punta Gorda to Tortola was a bit more involved.
We worked with an IPATA (Independent Pet and Animal Transport Association) certified company, the Transpetters, to help us coordinate the flights. Although it was a bit costly, I'm really glad we worked with them, as they helped us navigate all the details of moving dogs by plane.
There are really three options for flying with dogs: 1) take them as carry-on luggage; 2) take them as checked luggage; 3) ship them as cargo. Only dogs that can fit in a carrier that in turn fits under the seat in front of you may be taken as carry-on luggage, so this was not an option for Flash and Roscoe. In order to take dogs as checked luggage, an owner or handler must be on the flight the dogs are on. As we were booking dog flights and my flight with only a few weeks' notice,the Transpetters recommended we ship the dogs as cargo, in order to not have to try to coordinate flights for both of us.
Additionally, most airlines will not allow pets to fly as checked luggage or as cargo when the forecast temperature for the departure or arrival airport is higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional restrictions are applied to specific breeds, like pugs or certain long-haired dogs. Since we were moving in mid-August from Florida to the Caribbean, this created a major problem. We were less than a week from our scheduled departure date when the airline the Transpetters had been working with told us they couldn't transport Roscoe and Flash because of these restrictions.
Scrambling at the last minute, the Transpetters were able to find new flights for the dogs, but they would have to spend the night in Atlanta. In the wake of recent news coverage of dogs being lost or dying while being transported by commercial airlines, this twist made HB and me very nervous. After several long conversations with the Transpetters, and weighing all possible options, including driving the dogs to Atlanta myself, we decided the easiest thing for the dogs would be the overnight stay at airline HQ, so on August 17, I said goodbye to Roscoe and Flash and crossed my fingers that I would see them in St. Thomas the next day.
We worked with an IPATA (Independent Pet and Animal Transport Association) certified company, the Transpetters, to help us coordinate the flights. Although it was a bit costly, I'm really glad we worked with them, as they helped us navigate all the details of moving dogs by plane.
There are really three options for flying with dogs: 1) take them as carry-on luggage; 2) take them as checked luggage; 3) ship them as cargo. Only dogs that can fit in a carrier that in turn fits under the seat in front of you may be taken as carry-on luggage, so this was not an option for Flash and Roscoe. In order to take dogs as checked luggage, an owner or handler must be on the flight the dogs are on. As we were booking dog flights and my flight with only a few weeks' notice,the Transpetters recommended we ship the dogs as cargo, in order to not have to try to coordinate flights for both of us.
Additionally, most airlines will not allow pets to fly as checked luggage or as cargo when the forecast temperature for the departure or arrival airport is higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional restrictions are applied to specific breeds, like pugs or certain long-haired dogs. Since we were moving in mid-August from Florida to the Caribbean, this created a major problem. We were less than a week from our scheduled departure date when the airline the Transpetters had been working with told us they couldn't transport Roscoe and Flash because of these restrictions.
Scrambling at the last minute, the Transpetters were able to find new flights for the dogs, but they would have to spend the night in Atlanta. In the wake of recent news coverage of dogs being lost or dying while being transported by commercial airlines, this twist made HB and me very nervous. After several long conversations with the Transpetters, and weighing all possible options, including driving the dogs to Atlanta myself, we decided the easiest thing for the dogs would be the overnight stay at airline HQ, so on August 17, I said goodbye to Roscoe and Flash and crossed my fingers that I would see them in St. Thomas the next day.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 4b: Pet Import Requirements
Picking up from where I left off last Monday, the BVI requires the following information to appear on the Health Certificate in order to import dogs to the territory (note these are not in the same order as on the permit application):
1. Microchip
2. The following vaccinations: Parvo, Lepto, Lyme, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Distemper, Parainfluenza, and Parasites
3. Dogs must be examined and found to be in a healthy condition
4. Dogs aren't coming from a location under rabies quarantine
5. Dogs have lived in export country for at least six months
6. Rabies titre and shots.
Items numbered one through five are generally pretty easy to deal with. Most dogs in the US already have a microchip, and have received the vaccinations in the course of their standard annual trips to the vet. In some locations, vaccinations against parasites, and the ones for Lepto and Lyme are not part of the standard course of treatment, though, so you want to double-check with your vet that your dog has received these. If your dog hasn't, it's not big deal, as your vet can administer them at the time of filling out the health certificate.
The difficult item is number 6, because there is lots of timing involved. First, there are the rules for the shots. You must be able to show that the dog has received two rabies shots throughout the course of its life. Doesn't sound too hard so far. However, the first shot you're using for these purposes must have been administered at least three months after the dog's birth, and the second shot must have been administered no more than one year before the date the dog enters the BVI. The two shots must have been administered at least six months apart.
The timing of the rabies shots is of concern to two sets of folks: 1) those with a dog under 9 months (can't have two shots six months apart and after 3 months of age) and 2) those whose dog had their last rabies shot more than one year ago. People who fall into the 2nd category are increasingly common in the US as most vets now administer a 3-year rabies booster shots after the first two shots in a dog's lifetime.
So, you think, I'll just get a new shot now, while I'm having the vet fill out the health certificate. But here's the problem: you also have to have a rabies titre. A titre is a testing of the dog's blood to determine that the rabies antibody is in strong enough concentration. The blood for the titre cannot be drawn until 30 days after the most recent rabies shot. As a result, if your dog's most recent rabies shot is more than a year old, you have to get a new rabies shot, then wait thirty days, and then have your vet draw the blood for the titre.
A further complication: most countries (including the BVI) will only accept titre results from one lab in the entire USA, the veterinary lab at Kansas State University. Being the only lab in the country that titres are submitted to, the KSU lab is often quite busy, and may take a long time to process your titre results, as long as two months in the summer (high travel season).
Combining the information here with the information in the post from last Monday, if you're planning on visiting or moving to the BVI and you want to bring your dogs along, here's what your to-do list looks like. First, determine when your dog's last rabies shot was. If it was more than about 10 months ago, get to the vet at least three months before your desired travel date. On your first visit, have your vet administer a new rabies shot, along with updating or assuring all the vaccinations mentioned above. 30 days later, return to your vet to have him draw the blood for the rabies titre, and Fedex it to KSU labs, with return Fedex prepaid. Wait 3-8 weeks for KSU to return your titre results.
10 days prior to your flight, go back to your vet and have him prepare a Health Certificate on the appropriate USDA form. Fedex it to your local APHIS field office, with return Fedex prepaid, and keep your fingers crossed that it's returned in a timely manner. The minute you get the Health Certificate back from the USDA, keep the "owner copy" and then Fedex the rest of the Certificate, along with all back-up documents, a permit application, and a check for $10 per dog, to the BVI Veterinary Department. Keep your fingers crossed that it's returned in a timely manner. Assuming you get a permit back from the BVI in this window, board your flight.
In the alternative, you can have your vet prepare one health certificate to send to the BVI with the permit well in advance of your flight, and then another at the 10-day mark. Both your vet and the USDA will charge you twice to prepare two separate certificates, though.
Good luck with your pet importation!
1. Microchip
2. The following vaccinations: Parvo, Lepto, Lyme, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Distemper, Parainfluenza, and Parasites
3. Dogs must be examined and found to be in a healthy condition
4. Dogs aren't coming from a location under rabies quarantine
5. Dogs have lived in export country for at least six months
6. Rabies titre and shots.
Items numbered one through five are generally pretty easy to deal with. Most dogs in the US already have a microchip, and have received the vaccinations in the course of their standard annual trips to the vet. In some locations, vaccinations against parasites, and the ones for Lepto and Lyme are not part of the standard course of treatment, though, so you want to double-check with your vet that your dog has received these. If your dog hasn't, it's not big deal, as your vet can administer them at the time of filling out the health certificate.
The difficult item is number 6, because there is lots of timing involved. First, there are the rules for the shots. You must be able to show that the dog has received two rabies shots throughout the course of its life. Doesn't sound too hard so far. However, the first shot you're using for these purposes must have been administered at least three months after the dog's birth, and the second shot must have been administered no more than one year before the date the dog enters the BVI. The two shots must have been administered at least six months apart.
The timing of the rabies shots is of concern to two sets of folks: 1) those with a dog under 9 months (can't have two shots six months apart and after 3 months of age) and 2) those whose dog had their last rabies shot more than one year ago. People who fall into the 2nd category are increasingly common in the US as most vets now administer a 3-year rabies booster shots after the first two shots in a dog's lifetime.
So, you think, I'll just get a new shot now, while I'm having the vet fill out the health certificate. But here's the problem: you also have to have a rabies titre. A titre is a testing of the dog's blood to determine that the rabies antibody is in strong enough concentration. The blood for the titre cannot be drawn until 30 days after the most recent rabies shot. As a result, if your dog's most recent rabies shot is more than a year old, you have to get a new rabies shot, then wait thirty days, and then have your vet draw the blood for the titre.
A further complication: most countries (including the BVI) will only accept titre results from one lab in the entire USA, the veterinary lab at Kansas State University. Being the only lab in the country that titres are submitted to, the KSU lab is often quite busy, and may take a long time to process your titre results, as long as two months in the summer (high travel season).
Combining the information here with the information in the post from last Monday, if you're planning on visiting or moving to the BVI and you want to bring your dogs along, here's what your to-do list looks like. First, determine when your dog's last rabies shot was. If it was more than about 10 months ago, get to the vet at least three months before your desired travel date. On your first visit, have your vet administer a new rabies shot, along with updating or assuring all the vaccinations mentioned above. 30 days later, return to your vet to have him draw the blood for the rabies titre, and Fedex it to KSU labs, with return Fedex prepaid. Wait 3-8 weeks for KSU to return your titre results.
10 days prior to your flight, go back to your vet and have him prepare a Health Certificate on the appropriate USDA form. Fedex it to your local APHIS field office, with return Fedex prepaid, and keep your fingers crossed that it's returned in a timely manner. The minute you get the Health Certificate back from the USDA, keep the "owner copy" and then Fedex the rest of the Certificate, along with all back-up documents, a permit application, and a check for $10 per dog, to the BVI Veterinary Department. Keep your fingers crossed that it's returned in a timely manner. Assuming you get a permit back from the BVI in this window, board your flight.
In the alternative, you can have your vet prepare one health certificate to send to the BVI with the permit well in advance of your flight, and then another at the 10-day mark. Both your vet and the USDA will charge you twice to prepare two separate certificates, though.
Good luck with your pet importation!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tortola, Ho! Part 4a: Pet Import Permit
Once HB decided to accept the job in the BVIs, the matter that became front and center for us was how to move the dogs with us. Research was definitely the first step, and these are the sites that were most helpful for us:
Pet Import Info:
Pet Importation Information (not an official site; may contain incorrect information)
More Pet Importation Information (not an official site; may contain incorrect information)
Caribbean Pet Entry Requirements (great intro resource for people going somewhere other than the BVI)
The first website listed actually provides the first two pages of the BVI Pet Import Permit Application. The third page, which is not shown in that link, is the Permit Application itself, which is a brief, fill-in-the-blank form to provide the basic information about the pet, its owners, and its shots. The difficult part comes in all the things that have to be attached to the Application. To obtain a blank Application, you can call the BVI Department of Agriculture at 284-495-2110, and they will fax one to you.
The primary item that needs to be attached to the Application is a Health Certificate. In the case of people coming from the US, the Health Certificate must be filled out and signed by a USDA-certified Vet. The Health Certificate must then be sent to the USDA APHIS field office for your state and be stamped and signed by the APHIS vet. To find your APHIS field office, go to: www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/
Note that if you are planning on flying your pets, most airlines require the Health Certificate to have been stamped within 10 days of the flight. As a result, you will need to plan on sending your Application (with attached Health Certificate) to the BVI by fedex, with a return fedex envelope. Application processing usually takes about 2-4 business days. In our case, we didn't know about the 10-day requirement, and so had to get a second Health Certificate filled out and stamped in order to get Flash and Roscoe on a plane.
So, getting a piece of paper filled out by your vet and signed by the USDA doesn't sound too difficult, right? Tomorrow, we'll examine all the components that go into preparing the Health Certificate.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tortola, Ho! Part 3: Income & Expenses
Immigration is definitely on my mind right now, as I continue to wait for my lab results so I can complete my medical certificate. I thought I'd write a little bit more about the process both HB and I underwent in deciding to move and actually moving to the BVIs.
______________________________________________________________________________
After weeks of research, in late April, HB drove to Fort Lauderdale, and boarded a plane for St. Thomas. The time for his in-person interview had arrived, a three-night trip to Road Town to meet the Owner. The details of the trip are hazy for me, as I wasn't there, but I know that during his time in the BVIs in April, HB spent lots of time at the company's location, was taken to Virgin Gorda for a day trip, and shown Tortola nightlife. The trip concluded with a request by the Owner for HB to consult with me, and then present the Owner with his desired compensation.
There were many things we considered in preparing the compensation package that HB proposed to the Owner. We started by trying to get an idea of what our bills would be. We already had some fixed costs, such as my student loans, and our credit card payments, that weren't going to change no matter where we lived, but in addition, we looked at what our cost of living would be on Tortola. We anticipated that an apartment comparable to what we had in Florida would at least twice as much in Road Town, and we also estimated that our monthly grocery bill would increase by about 20% (definitely underestimated this one).
Perhaps most importantly, we looked at income taxes. Using the IRS website (www.irs.gov), we researched whether and to what extent the income we earned while working in the BVIs would be taxed by the US. Conveniently, we discovered that as long as we were truly living out of the United States, we could choose to exclude income from non-US sources from US income tax. That is to say, we would not have to pay taxes on our earnings while living in the BVI. This is known as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, and you can find more information on it by clicking the link above. If you are considering working outside the US, I highly recommend you read up on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. It is a complex provision, and you may want to consult a CPA or tax attorney before you move.
On the other hand, although we found that we did not have to pay US income taxes, we learned that there would still be deductions from HB's salary. First, he would be responsible for contributing 4% of his earnings to Social Security, the BVI's socialized medicine program. HB's work permit enables him to enroll in Social Security, and so the 4% contribution deducted from his check doesn't seem like a huge deal, considering it entitles HB to healthcare. Additionally, there is an income tax of 8% on all earnings over $10,000 in a calendar year.
The information about tax treatment was so important to us because it meant that HB would be bringing home a much larger percentage of his pay in the BVI than he was in the US. It made the increased cost of living in the BVI more attainable for us, because HB would have more dollars in his pocket from each paycheck.
Ultimately, after compiling all the data about our fixed costs, cost of living, and tax treatment, in early May, HB sent the Owner a two-option proposal. With rent running so high in the BVI, HB requested in the first option that the Owner provide housing and car in addition to salary. Understanding, though, that the Owner may be unable or unwilling to provide housing, the second option eliminated the housing proviso in favor of a higher salary.
The Owner responded a few days later, accepting whichever option HB deemed more suitable, and offering HB employment with his company. On May 12th, the process of getting HB and the dogs permitted for immigration began in earnest.
______________________________________________________________________________
After weeks of research, in late April, HB drove to Fort Lauderdale, and boarded a plane for St. Thomas. The time for his in-person interview had arrived, a three-night trip to Road Town to meet the Owner. The details of the trip are hazy for me, as I wasn't there, but I know that during his time in the BVIs in April, HB spent lots of time at the company's location, was taken to Virgin Gorda for a day trip, and shown Tortola nightlife. The trip concluded with a request by the Owner for HB to consult with me, and then present the Owner with his desired compensation.
There were many things we considered in preparing the compensation package that HB proposed to the Owner. We started by trying to get an idea of what our bills would be. We already had some fixed costs, such as my student loans, and our credit card payments, that weren't going to change no matter where we lived, but in addition, we looked at what our cost of living would be on Tortola. We anticipated that an apartment comparable to what we had in Florida would at least twice as much in Road Town, and we also estimated that our monthly grocery bill would increase by about 20% (definitely underestimated this one).
Perhaps most importantly, we looked at income taxes. Using the IRS website (www.irs.gov), we researched whether and to what extent the income we earned while working in the BVIs would be taxed by the US. Conveniently, we discovered that as long as we were truly living out of the United States, we could choose to exclude income from non-US sources from US income tax. That is to say, we would not have to pay taxes on our earnings while living in the BVI. This is known as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, and you can find more information on it by clicking the link above. If you are considering working outside the US, I highly recommend you read up on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. It is a complex provision, and you may want to consult a CPA or tax attorney before you move.
On the other hand, although we found that we did not have to pay US income taxes, we learned that there would still be deductions from HB's salary. First, he would be responsible for contributing 4% of his earnings to Social Security, the BVI's socialized medicine program. HB's work permit enables him to enroll in Social Security, and so the 4% contribution deducted from his check doesn't seem like a huge deal, considering it entitles HB to healthcare. Additionally, there is an income tax of 8% on all earnings over $10,000 in a calendar year.
The information about tax treatment was so important to us because it meant that HB would be bringing home a much larger percentage of his pay in the BVI than he was in the US. It made the increased cost of living in the BVI more attainable for us, because HB would have more dollars in his pocket from each paycheck.
Ultimately, after compiling all the data about our fixed costs, cost of living, and tax treatment, in early May, HB sent the Owner a two-option proposal. With rent running so high in the BVI, HB requested in the first option that the Owner provide housing and car in addition to salary. Understanding, though, that the Owner may be unable or unwilling to provide housing, the second option eliminated the housing proviso in favor of a higher salary.
The Owner responded a few days later, accepting whichever option HB deemed more suitable, and offering HB employment with his company. On May 12th, the process of getting HB and the dogs permitted for immigration began in earnest.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Medical Certificate
I had meant to address this as part of the Tortola, Ho! series, as it was definitely one of our big surprises in trying to get HB's paperwork together for his work permit. However, since I am working on my own work permit right now, it is very much on my mind.
At the very end of the process for immigrating to the BVIs, the employer is sent a letter granting the work permit. I will address the actual letter and its requirements at another time. For now, I want to focus on the medical certificate that is attached to the letter.
The immigrant must complete the medical certificate, along with all supporting documentation, before arriving in the BVIs. The medical certificate is two pages of instructions, accompanied by three pages of the actual certificate. Let's take a look at what is required:
The final page, which I was unable to get the scanner to reproduce contains the following:
IMMUNIZATION:
VACCINE:
1st DPT & TDPV
2nd DPT & TDPV
3rd DPT & TDPV
1st Booster
2nd Booster
BCG
It then gives space for the doctor to provide a Conclusion, and then has the certificate for the doctor to sign and seal or stamp.
Examining the elements of the medical certificate individually, the most important things to note are the required lab tests and the immunizations, as these seem to cause the most difficulty and take the most time.
The required labs are: 1) VDRL; 2) Stool O & P; 3) Mantoux.
The Mantoux is a skin test for Tuberculosis. It is a common test, administered by pricking the skin. The site must then be examined by a medical professional 48-72 hours later to see if any reaction occurred. The medical professional will prepare a certificate giving the date and time of administration, the date and time of reading, and their observations of reaction, including measurement of swelling in millimeters. If you test positive for Tuberculosis, you are also required to bring your most recent CBC, ESR, and Chest X-Ray. Neither HB nor I tested positive, so I cannot speak to what these items entail.
The Stool O & P (Ova & Parasites) is also fairly simple. The lab will give you the required equipment and instructions. At home, you will take samples of your stool and place them into the appropriate containers before returning them to the lab. My understanding is that results can take as long as two weeks. HB never had a stool sample, and I am still waiting on my results, so I cannot verify turn-around time on this yet.
Finally, VDRL is intended to test for syphilis. It is a serum-based blood test, so you will have to have blood drawn. Additionally, VDRL results take a minimum of two weeks. In HB's case, it was actually three weeks before his results came back. The extended length of time for VDRL results is especially frustrating in light of the fact that another, newer test for syphilis exists. Called an RPR, results are returned in two to three days. Unfortunately, since VDRL is on the certificate, VDRL is what we have to do.
The required immunizations are the three DPT & TDPV shots, plus two boosters and BCG. DPT is the Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis shot. In the US, the DPT series is required for all schoolchildren, so if you received your school vaccines, you should be fine on this. My last DPT booster was in 2001, so I went ahead and got another one while I was at the doctor. BCG is the bacille Calmet-Guerin vaccine, which is used to vaccinate against tuberculosis. BCG is no longer common in the US, as tuberculosis is very rare here. Neither HB nor I have had the BCG vaccination, but this was not a problem for HB in receiving his work permit. My doctor advised against getting the BCG vaccination, as it can often result in a false positive for the Mantoux skin test (see above).
In all, if you are immigrating to another country, be prepared that a medical certificate may be part of your process. Do your best to find a version of the medical certificate before you submit your visa application, so that you are not stuck, as HB was, waiting for three weeks for lab results while everything else pertaining to the work permit was ready.
If you are immigrating to the BVI, please feel free to print these copies of the medical certificate to use in making your own preparations, but be advised that your doctor must fill out and sign the original that BVI Immigration will provide to you.
At the very end of the process for immigrating to the BVIs, the employer is sent a letter granting the work permit. I will address the actual letter and its requirements at another time. For now, I want to focus on the medical certificate that is attached to the letter.
The immigrant must complete the medical certificate, along with all supporting documentation, before arriving in the BVIs. The medical certificate is two pages of instructions, accompanied by three pages of the actual certificate. Let's take a look at what is required:
The final page, which I was unable to get the scanner to reproduce contains the following:
IMMUNIZATION:
VACCINE:
1st DPT & TDPV
2nd DPT & TDPV
3rd DPT & TDPV
1st Booster
2nd Booster
BCG
It then gives space for the doctor to provide a Conclusion, and then has the certificate for the doctor to sign and seal or stamp.
Examining the elements of the medical certificate individually, the most important things to note are the required lab tests and the immunizations, as these seem to cause the most difficulty and take the most time.
The required labs are: 1) VDRL; 2) Stool O & P; 3) Mantoux.
The Mantoux is a skin test for Tuberculosis. It is a common test, administered by pricking the skin. The site must then be examined by a medical professional 48-72 hours later to see if any reaction occurred. The medical professional will prepare a certificate giving the date and time of administration, the date and time of reading, and their observations of reaction, including measurement of swelling in millimeters. If you test positive for Tuberculosis, you are also required to bring your most recent CBC, ESR, and Chest X-Ray. Neither HB nor I tested positive, so I cannot speak to what these items entail.
The Stool O & P (Ova & Parasites) is also fairly simple. The lab will give you the required equipment and instructions. At home, you will take samples of your stool and place them into the appropriate containers before returning them to the lab. My understanding is that results can take as long as two weeks. HB never had a stool sample, and I am still waiting on my results, so I cannot verify turn-around time on this yet.
Finally, VDRL is intended to test for syphilis. It is a serum-based blood test, so you will have to have blood drawn. Additionally, VDRL results take a minimum of two weeks. In HB's case, it was actually three weeks before his results came back. The extended length of time for VDRL results is especially frustrating in light of the fact that another, newer test for syphilis exists. Called an RPR, results are returned in two to three days. Unfortunately, since VDRL is on the certificate, VDRL is what we have to do.
The required immunizations are the three DPT & TDPV shots, plus two boosters and BCG. DPT is the Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis shot. In the US, the DPT series is required for all schoolchildren, so if you received your school vaccines, you should be fine on this. My last DPT booster was in 2001, so I went ahead and got another one while I was at the doctor. BCG is the bacille Calmet-Guerin vaccine, which is used to vaccinate against tuberculosis. BCG is no longer common in the US, as tuberculosis is very rare here. Neither HB nor I have had the BCG vaccination, but this was not a problem for HB in receiving his work permit. My doctor advised against getting the BCG vaccination, as it can often result in a false positive for the Mantoux skin test (see above).
In all, if you are immigrating to another country, be prepared that a medical certificate may be part of your process. Do your best to find a version of the medical certificate before you submit your visa application, so that you are not stuck, as HB was, waiting for three weeks for lab results while everything else pertaining to the work permit was ready.
If you are immigrating to the BVI, please feel free to print these copies of the medical certificate to use in making your own preparations, but be advised that your doctor must fill out and sign the original that BVI Immigration will provide to you.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tortola, Ho! Part 2: Research & Helpful Links
On the Sunday after HB had sent his resume to the Owner, we were wandering around Epcot when HB got a phone call from a number he didn't recognize. The caller left a message, and of course it was the Owner. HB said he'd call the Owner back when we got home that evening, but I insisted that HB call back immediately.
So, leaning against a wall in the UK pavilion at Epcot, HB had a phone interview with the Owner. The call lasted about 20 minutes, and at the end, the Owner asked HB to come to Tortola for a visit -- a sort of second interview -- to make sure that HB truly new his way around the company systems and that he got along fairly well with the Owner and his potential co-workers.
When we got home, we took a look at the calendar and HB emailed Owner to confirm that the dates would work for him. Once HB heard back from Owner, we booked HB's plane ticket.
Then the research began. We knew very little of what it would take to immigrate to the BVI. How hard was it to get a work permit? What kind of documents would we need? How would we go about taking the dogs with us? Could we take the dogs with us?
We also wondered about money issues, and had to do the appropriate research to determine: What sort of salary should HB expect? Request? How much was rent? Groceries? Utilities? What were the tax implications of working in the BVI? Would we still be paying US income tax? What about BVI income tax?
We spent almost an hour nearly every night in the five weeks between the phone call and HB's visit researching these questions. I hope to answer them all more fully is this series -- to make a one-stop-shop of sorts for others trying to move to the BVI. In the meantime, here is a list of resources we found helpful
_______________________________________________________
Work Permit Info:
BVI Visa Application (note, this is NOT the application actually used for work permits, but was helpful in giving us an idea of what documents and information the work permit app would require)
BVI Work Permit Application This is the actual work permit application
_______________________________________________________
Pet Import Info:
Pet Importation Information (not an official site; may contain incorrect information)
More Pet Importation Information (not an official site; may contain incorrect information)
Caribbean Pet Entry Requirements (great intro resource for people going somewhere other than the BVI)
_______________________________________________________
Cost of Living Info:
Provisioning in the BVI (info on food markets and costs)
_______________________________________________________
Income Tax Info:
IRS Form 2555 for Foreign Earned Income (I also recommend reading the instructions for Form 2555 for additional information)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tortola, Ho! Part 1: Getting Hired
So how does someone go about moving to the British Virgin Islands, anyway?
I'm sure the answer to that question varies from person to person, depending on financial resources, and the lifestyle you're looking for when you get here.
When we were trying to move, I couldn't find anyone's answer to that question. I thought I'd share our experience, in the hope that it may help others down the line. Even if your reasons for moving are different from ours, or you're relocating to a different part of the Caribbean, I hope that our experiences might help prepare you for some of the things you may encounter.
___________________________________________________________________
Sometime in February 2010, HB was at work, and it was a boring day. He and his assistant, George, were talking, trying to pass the time. Amongst the variety of topics broached were 1) How much HB had enjoyed Tortola on our recent Christmas cruise and 2) How little HB was enjoying his current job.
George was familiar with Tortola, as he had once worked coordinating shipments to all of the company's locations in the Caribbean. George mentioned that the owner of the location on Tortola was a good friend of his. One thing led to another, and soon, George was promising HB a list of all the owners in the Caribbean.
HB came home that night and told me about his conversation with George, half-laughing at the coincidence of it. The next day, George handed HB a list of names and contact numbers for the owners, and again mentioned his especially strong connection with the owner of the Tortola location. George asked HB if he would like George to get in touch with any of the owners, and HB, figuring it couldn't hurt, said "why not?"
George called his good friend, the owner of the Tortola location. They chatted briefly about the company, and then George asked how things were going.
"Ok, ok. But I could really use a really great manager. Do you have anyone you could send me?" the owner asked.
"I think I have a guy here who might be interested."
"Well, have him send me his resume," and the owner gave George his e-mail address.
Both HB and I were stunned at how quickly an opportunity had presented itself. Before that fateful February day, we had half-heartedly fantasized about living in the Caribbean, but certainly had no plans to leave Florida any time soon. Neither of us had made any effort to research job opportunities in the Caribbean, nor did we have any idea what it would take to move and work here.
______________________________________________________________________
Obviously, not everyone is going to have a George. HB could have gone years and years and never had a George, and in that, he got ridiculously lucky. What can be taken from HB's experience, I think, is that if you want to move to the Caribbean, looking in the line of work that you currently perform is not a bad way to start.
HB made a more-or-less lateral move from one location in the company to another. I think it wouldn't be too hard for most other people to do the same, if what you're doing now is in any way skilled labor.
Well-qualified, skilled people are always wanted here. Many companies who may not have an opening will make one for the right person. Most of the phone books for most of the islands are available online. Pick an island, find what you do in the yellow pages, and start making some calls. You may not get your first pick of islands, but you will, eventually, find work in the Caribbean.
I'm sure the answer to that question varies from person to person, depending on financial resources, and the lifestyle you're looking for when you get here.
When we were trying to move, I couldn't find anyone's answer to that question. I thought I'd share our experience, in the hope that it may help others down the line. Even if your reasons for moving are different from ours, or you're relocating to a different part of the Caribbean, I hope that our experiences might help prepare you for some of the things you may encounter.
___________________________________________________________________
Sometime in February 2010, HB was at work, and it was a boring day. He and his assistant, George, were talking, trying to pass the time. Amongst the variety of topics broached were 1) How much HB had enjoyed Tortola on our recent Christmas cruise and 2) How little HB was enjoying his current job.
George was familiar with Tortola, as he had once worked coordinating shipments to all of the company's locations in the Caribbean. George mentioned that the owner of the location on Tortola was a good friend of his. One thing led to another, and soon, George was promising HB a list of all the owners in the Caribbean.
HB came home that night and told me about his conversation with George, half-laughing at the coincidence of it. The next day, George handed HB a list of names and contact numbers for the owners, and again mentioned his especially strong connection with the owner of the Tortola location. George asked HB if he would like George to get in touch with any of the owners, and HB, figuring it couldn't hurt, said "why not?"
George called his good friend, the owner of the Tortola location. They chatted briefly about the company, and then George asked how things were going.
"Ok, ok. But I could really use a really great manager. Do you have anyone you could send me?" the owner asked.
"I think I have a guy here who might be interested."
"Well, have him send me his resume," and the owner gave George his e-mail address.
Both HB and I were stunned at how quickly an opportunity had presented itself. Before that fateful February day, we had half-heartedly fantasized about living in the Caribbean, but certainly had no plans to leave Florida any time soon. Neither of us had made any effort to research job opportunities in the Caribbean, nor did we have any idea what it would take to move and work here.
______________________________________________________________________
Obviously, not everyone is going to have a George. HB could have gone years and years and never had a George, and in that, he got ridiculously lucky. What can be taken from HB's experience, I think, is that if you want to move to the Caribbean, looking in the line of work that you currently perform is not a bad way to start.
HB made a more-or-less lateral move from one location in the company to another. I think it wouldn't be too hard for most other people to do the same, if what you're doing now is in any way skilled labor.
Well-qualified, skilled people are always wanted here. Many companies who may not have an opening will make one for the right person. Most of the phone books for most of the islands are available online. Pick an island, find what you do in the yellow pages, and start making some calls. You may not get your first pick of islands, but you will, eventually, find work in the Caribbean.
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