TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands BVIAA website issues

Crew of 8 supposed to fly out tomorrow. We’ve tried everything to get our travel authorization. However all 8 applications are still “pending”. We’ve called whatsapp’d emailed everyone in the bvi government. Going to cancel trip as of this morning since apparently we will not be allowed to enter.

https://bvinews.com/glitches-with-bvi-gateway-portal-frustrating-some-travellers/

The uncertainty certainly isn't fun, but I'm not sure I would cancel, unless you have any reason to believe that your application could be denied for cause. Document all your efforts to apply, have all your tests printed out, and if the problem is with the website there's a good chance things can be worked out when you get there.

Yeah we’re thinking about that but worried we’ll get to SJU and not be allowed to board the flight. The airlines don’t have much ability to negotiate BVIs rules.

ScubaDrew. Please email me directly - adobbs@oilnutbay.com.

I have someone who may be able to assist.

Not sure about the BVI, but for St. Maarten, you can't board the flight if you don't have the authorization.

Did you get it sorted out yet? PM me.

Try contacting Henrietta Alexander on FB, she was very helpful.

Our application was in limbo because "by sea" was still an option but the decision about delaying opening the ports had apparently already been made. The application could not be edited, nor could a new one be initiated with the same passport number. Henrietta deleted our old application and got our new one approved in minutes.

Thanks for the info, EZgoin. Every country's site is set up differently, as I know a lot of people have been able to submit multiple applications on the SXM website and have had subsequent applications approved, after the first one was denied. It sort of makes sense that they would not allow a second application with the same passport number.

Our applications were not approved until literally hours before we took off from DC. We almost cancelled, but hung in there at it all worked out. We didn't have to show any authorization docs at SJU (we were on Cape Air).
Best of luck.
Husker.

For future travelers with this issue, make sure you fill out an individual application for every member of your group. This seems to help the process.

VG resident--SXM travelers have reported an issue with more than one person using the same email. Is that an issue here?

Hope you make it..let us know..hope to see you agin down there!

Not that I have heard of, no.

Hi all,

Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to get everyone approved on Christmas Day moments before we started to travel. But, only by contacting a personal connection in the bvi government. While I deeply thank this person for helping, without them our applications would not have been approved.

They were all “stuck” at various states and due to glitches would never have been approved. All applications were submitted correctly, using individual email addresses, and updated with COVID results if prompted to (half of applications never even made it to that point).

Only by whatsApp Submission to a government contact were we able to get approval.

So, I guess mixed feeling here.

1. I’m really disappointed the bvi government would abandon us with no responses only to be stuck in the airport. If it was not for a personal connection to a Govt employee this trip would have been canceled. It is unfair to set rules and then make them impossible to follow risking flights, boats, provisions, etc with no communication. All 8 of us tried emailing calling and WhatsApp’ing with no response what so ever.
2. I am deeply grateful to the bvi Govt employees who stepped up on Christmas Day to fix it- there are a lot of wonderful people who do have bvilove and I hate for a broken system or processes to be representative of their individual efforts

Hope others have a better experience and they fix these system issues quickly.

ScubaDrew--glad you were able to go after all. But travelling should not be this hard.

100% Correct, but it does show how the different governments are using the virus for personal gain.
The people should cancel all their reservations and let the government know that they won’t consider the BVI or other Caribbean locations for their next vacation unless they get some sort of guarantee that they’ll be welcomed and not scammed

There are only three possible explanations for this: ineptitude, laziness, or the BVI does not really want visitors. Stories like this will dissuade people from booking. I'm wondering if the costs of transport, testing, tracking and quarantining Belongers are adding up and the government wants to slow down arrivals.

Glad you got it sorted out ScubaDrew. Of course it shouldn't be this hard, but I hope it will be as fully worth the hassle for you as it was for us.

We certainly considered the fact we may not be welcome. We would hope for a response of “sorry we wanted to allow visitor, however the situation has become etc etc” response versus just ignoring applications. It would be really easy to message all applicants we couldn’t be accepted versus leaving us at an airport gate denied boarding. Most folks who applied had already made significant investment, both monetary, and with friend and family, as well as local bvi businesses.

I would not be upset about denial, it just needs to be communicated.

Doubt that any government is listening, but you can vote with your dollars! BVI and other Caribbean destinations aren’t getting mine.

Mexico got my dollars earlier this month, and Palm Beach is getting a bunch more this week as well.

Ratsmans Wife: I had tremendous difficulties with the portal but managed to get my approval without first uploading the test results, an obvious error. It was impossible to get anyone from the Whats App number to respond at this point to fix this up but since I had the approval and the negative test I had enough to get on a plane. Nobody questioned any of this when I arrived and the people at the airport conducting the intake and testing were pleasant, efficient and welcoming. The bracelet and transponder didn't work very well and gave off a lot of false beeps. I think the government really does want us to come, I think they are nervous and cautious but have the right mix of policies now, but I think they chose badly with their software and equipment supplier and are trying to keep it all going while the wheels fall off. I was treated very well while I was there and the people of the Island often told me they were grateful I had made the trip.

In short, they don't really have a good system for managing and controlling the intake of visitors and they probably don't know what to do about it. I guess struggle on and hope the vaccine soon makes this all unnecessary?

GaryC, so that's one vote for ineptitude!

"We need to procure software and equipment to protect the health and lives of our citizens. I know, let's go with a Jamaican company with no discernible track record!"

Some things are too predictable to be taken seriously.

GaryC, 100% on the money! We felt very welcome. Everyone was trying hard. IMO the problem is lack of resources. Not enough expertise and trained personal to execute the protocols, especially when it comes to communications.

We have plans to return in Feb, June and November 2021.

GaryC exactly our experience as well.

I have, for years, been an advocate of Hanlon's Razor ("never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity") and it would certainly seem to apply here!

Due to the fact that they confiscated and fined heavily a few sailors who had no intention of landing in their territory has made me lose respect for the officials

Yeah, Zanshin, I agree that Hanlon's Razor is in the mix. Add to that inadequate resources and planning/leadership that fell short of the mark. That said, the US gov's response to CV19 was/is worse.....and not attributable to Hanlon.

Regarding the border crossing mess, very unfortunate for those involved, but, plenty of fault on both sides of how that went down, IMO.

Actually the fault lies on the BVI who stopped the boats going about their ways at sea with no possibility of effecting the health of the BVI belongers.