The Antigua and Barbuda government plans to launch a three-month immigration amnesty from April 2 this year for undocumented migrants who have been living in the country for at least four years, the Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant, has said.
Merchant, speaking to reporters following the weekly Cabinet meeting, said that the measure forms part of proposed amendments to immigration legislation that are expected to be debated in Parliament later this month.
He said Cabinet agreed that the amnesty programme would run for a limited period while authorities process applications from eligible migrants.
“They also agreed that the amnesty itself will start on the 2nd of April and will run for three months,” Merchant said, adding that the programme will apply to individuals who have been residing in the country for four years or more without legal status.
“The four-year start in terms of how long you’ve been in Antigua, they think it’s adequate,” Merchant said, noting that research suggests most individuals likely to apply for the programme have been living in the country for at least that length of time.
He said the Cabinet also reviewed the proposed application process, including the documentation required and the cost to applicants and that applicants will need to submit a police record covering the previous two years from their country of origin and from Antigua and Barbuda.
“They also agreed on a police record dating back two years from their country of origin,” he said, adding that the government has also reduced the proposed application fee, recommending an EC$250 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) processing fee.
“The original bill recommended an EC$500 processing fee,” he noted.
Under the proposal, the Chief Immigration Officer would be responsible for reviewing and approving applications submitted during the amnesty period.
Parliament is expected to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill on April 23. (CMC)
