Instant $100 visa offered for visiting workers
(CNS): Visitors to Cayman who plan to engage in “non-professional” work for up to five days – such as entertainers and musicians– can now apply for an instant Visitor’s Work Visa (VWV) that can be issued when they arrive on island. The new $100 visa, which was launched last week as part of the latest amendments to the immigration law, offers an alternative to a temporary permit for people coming to engage in short term employment. “It is designed to offer a more convenient service than the temporary work permits, while also discouraging anyone who might undertake work while on a visitor’s permit,” said Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans. (Photo Lennon Christian)
According to a government release, people applying for the new VWV would normally work outside of the Cayman Islands but are sponsored by a local person or business for a few days to do a specific job. Sponsors of visiting workers can download a ‘Letter of Invitation’ form and scan in the completed letter and email it directly to the department at least 24 hours before the visitor is due to arrive.
This letter must provide details on when the person is due to arrive, the job or jobs they will be undertaking while in Cayman and the details of the employment the person does in their country of residence. The visiting worker is then free to travel to the Cayman Islands and will be eligible to receive a VWV and pay their fee of CI$100 at the airport. However, officials warned that the visa will not be granted if the Letter of Invitation form has not been completed.
“Of course, anyone seeking a VWV must comply with all other entry and landing requirements such as a valid entry visa, as applicable,” added the CIO. “Also, these visitors may only work with their approved sponsors.”
A visiting worker can be granted only one VWV for the same sponsor within a calendar month and it cannot be extended except under exceptional circumstances. If so, the visiting worker can receive a further five calendar days and must pay a further $100.
The immigration department explained that the VWV is not valid for professional workers such as lawyers, accountants, medical professionals, architects, surveyors, teachers and ministers of religion who may be visiting for short periods to work here.
The form is attached below or can be downloaded from the immigration department website.
Completed forms can be emailed to IMM-VWV@gov.ky
Category: Local News
It's hard enough for local entertainers to get work now , so now any one from any where at anytime can arrive with pocket change and take a job from us? they can come for any reason under any circumstances and instantly take jobs from local people , but that's considered good and ok because it's only for a short time ? I don't get it? and by the way entertainers are proffesional people.
Just makes it easier for sales reps to come here and take business away from local suppliers.
At least give local companies that manufacture items a chance.
And that includes Government who spends millions overseas on uniforms etc every year.
Give us a chance!!!
I have yet to see an immigration officer smiling.
Good article.
Thanks for this information CNS.
What was the original purpose of immigration? Was it not to monitor the movements of people, protect the borders against offenders, fraud, and upkeeping important records on individuals? Where did the idea came from that employers have to pay Immigration in order to have applications to work for their businesses approved? I say get rid of work permits fees and all other work fees, and only require from employers a flat "border protection fee" so that Immigration can return back to what it was initially established to do.
Read the Caymanian Protection Law if you genuinely want to understand Immigrations original role. Border controls are a minor element of it. The Bermuda equivalent is much the same.
nice pic but a smiling immigration officer? Never saw that before
You are more likely to see a Hitler moustache than a smile on arrival at Owen Roberts.
What an inappropriate comment.
But is true in my experience.
LOL! Completely agree
That Officer is always courteous, its a shame some of his fellow co-workers do not have the same attitude considering they are essentially the "first Caymanian faces"" that tourists interract with when they arrive on our shores.
Its about time. The whole process previously did nothing to encourage such short business visits and often made the process of people coming here on business trips or hiring live entertainers from abroad overly-complicated. I think this is a good and long overdue move that will generate revenue.
oh the caymankindness!!!!!
Seems a very short period of time. I wonder how useful these will really be?