Change of visa rules from 15th January to 15th May 2007

Roland Siebenhorn · Post by **Roland Siebenhorn** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:49 am

Dear myTobago readers,

important notice for those who are planning to travel to Tobago
during the a.m. period: The Caricom countries, which T&T belongs to,
changed the Visa rules for countries exept United Kingdom,
USA, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Ireland,
Japan, South Africa and Germany due to the Cricket World Cup 2007.

More informations are available on the Caricom website:
http://www.caricomimpacs.org/

Strange to say there's nothing written on the official T&T website:
http://www.visittnt.com/TT.asp

I would recommend for tourists from Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, etc. to get in contact with the T&T embassy to clarify this issue.

Maybe some participants of this forum are more informed about this?

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:19 am

Hi Roland

Thanks for that. A reader brought it to my attention in mid-December and I've been trying to find out about it. However, Christmas has weaved it's magic and I can't seem to get any confirmation of what's involved.

Johanna Y. · Post by **Johanna Y.** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:18 am

Ok guys, I'm starting to freak out... We have a flight January 16th and of course we don't have a visa because Finnish citizens shouldn't need one. I found the following chapters at http://www.gov.tt/news/news_article.asp?id=5060

"Caricom nationals (except Haiti), and nationals of Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Africa, France and its overseas departments and territories, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and its dependent territories and the United States and its dependent territories are exempt from this requirement.

In addition, those who already enjoy a form of status granted by any of the immigration authorities of the 10 countries, valid until May 15, will not require the Special Visa."

Could please "translate" what is the meaning of the last chapter? Do I need one or not? I would really appreciate all the help.

Johanna

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:30 am

Hi Johanna

It is because of the ambiguity of that last paragraph and the general lack of information about this "visa" that I didn't post any information when I first heard about it. The honest answer is that I don't know what it means. It might be a good idea to contact your travel agent and/or airline or the T&T High Commission (London is the nearest to you. +44 (020) 7245-9351 or [email protected]). What particularly bothers me is the absence of comment on this on other sites, not to mention the exhorbitant visa fee of US$100 per person.

Johanna Y. · Post by **Johanna Y.** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:44 am

Hi Steve!

Thanks for your reply. I've contacted the T&T embassy London office through e-mail, but there's no answer yet. I'll call them if they don't reply. This thing is really scaring me big time...

Johanna

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:48 am

Johanna

Don't be scared. The simple fact that this matter has received so little publicity is, I'm sure, proof that the matter is easily solved. I am convinced that it is either a mistake or that it does not apply exactly as we are all reading it. My guess is that the Immigration boys and girls at Tobago don't even know about it. Don't rely on an email reply from the High Commission - I've heard regular reports about them not replying. If you are really concerned, I would telephone them. Please let us all know if you find anything.

Lina Mallon · Post by **Lina Mallon** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:08 pm

I am travelling on the 1st of February from Ireland but on a Swedish passport.
I rang the embassy in the UK and Sweden or Finland is not on the list of countries that require visa's so I think we will be fine.
i have also emailed them and will let you know if I get a reply.

Johanna Y. · Post by **Johanna Y.** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:33 pm

Hi Lina,

Your news are soooo good

. Thanks a lot for the information. I will also send a post when I get some answers.

Johanna

Josef K. · Post by **Josef K.** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:05 pm

visited the site of austrian goverment for travelinformation, where austrians are informed about the new visaorders and that tere's only one place to get:
.....
Dieses Visum ist NUR erhältlich über die
Barbados High Commission
1 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3ND
Tel. 0044-20-7631 4975
Fax 0044-20-7323 6872
E-mail: [email protected]
Die Kosten für das Visum betragen US$ 100,-.
......

hope it will be helpful for someone
(not the best start for the first journey to the carribians i think)

Peter Kuhn · Post by **Peter Kuhn** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:44 pm

Hi mytobago readers,
my last information is that german citizens don`t need a special visa for the time from 15. january till 15. may 2007
I have this information from the following website:
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de ... weise.html

''1. Aktuelle Hinweise
Vom 11.03. bis 28.04.2007 wird u.a. auch in Trinidad und Tobago der Cricket World Cup 2007 ausgetragen.

In diesem Zusammenhang wird für die Länder Antigua und Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts und Nevis, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent und die Grenadinen, Trinidad und Tobago, Dominica und St. Lucia für die Zeit vom 15.01. bis 15.05.2007 ein sog. „Caricom Visa“ eingeführt.

Deutsche Staatsangehörige sind von der Visumpflicht befreit. Weitere Informationen können unter http://www.caricom.org abgerufen werden. ''

I hope this information can help the german readers.

Regards
Peter Kuhn

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:17 am

sounds like the countries that travelled here before 15th january (exept the ones specially listed) can just go in travelling. I guess if sweden and finnland is no problem the same should apply to norway...
so far I worry about our swiss and austrian guests. would really be happy about some information for them!

not beeing from a crickett nation you can imagine what I think....(

)

hope everything turns out well
STEPH

Jo B · Post by **Jo B** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:37 pm

As I have booked World Cup tickets for St Lucia, I have been sent the official Caricom Visa email. I will try to reproduce it here:

"Dear CWC Patron

Welcome to the Caribbean.

We note that you have applied to purchase tickets for Cricket World Cup 2007 (CWC 2007).

To facilitate your travel during the period the Caribbean Community has created a Single Domestic Space from 15 January to 15 May 2007. This comprises the nine host countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago) and Dominica.

Your passport will be stamped by Immigration at your first point of entry into the Single Domestic Space. Thereafter, you will enjoy expedited movement through the Space during the period 15 January- 15 May 2007 without your passport having to be stamped.

CARICOM Special Visas will be required for entry into the Single Domestic Space except from Nationals of the following countries who will be EXEMPT from this requirement:

1. NATIONALS OF CARICOM MEMBER STATES (EXCEPT HAITI)
2. CANADA
3. FRANCE AND ITS OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES
4. GERMANY
5. IRELAND
6. ITALY
7. JAPAN
8. THE NETHERLANDS AND ITS OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES
9. UNITED KINGDOM AND ITS DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
10. SOUTH AFRICA;
11. SPAIN;
12. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS DEPENDENT TERRITORIES; AND
13. ALL OTHER NATIONALS WHO ALREADY ENJOY A FORM OF STATUS BEFORE 15TH JANUARY 2007 CONFERRED BY ANY OF THE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES of the ten countries which form THE SINGLE DOMESTIC SPACE AND WHICH IS VALID UNTIL AT LEAST 15 MAY 2007.

Should you require a visa in accordance with the above guidelines, please note that a visa application form, instruction sheet and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be available from the following website from Monday 27 Nov. 2006.

http://www.caricomimpacs.org
http://www.cricketworldcup.com "

I suspect that point 13 is the key one for those countries not specifically mentioned above. My understanding is that the provisions are meant to make travelling around the Caribbean easier during the duration of the World Cup, not to put extra obstacles in place.

Hope that's useful.

Jo x

PS I am looking for a companion for this trip in March. Anyone interested, as my husband can't make it due to work commitments?

Roland Siebenhorn · Post by **Roland Siebenhorn** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:57 pm

Hi Jo,

your explanation sounds evident. It's a Caricom-Visa, not a Trinidad & Tobago visa. It makes it easier for World Cup visitors to travel between the islands. I assume if you stay only on Tobago you don't need one.

I don't understand why they differ between European Community countries. Why an Austrian needs one and an Italian not?
Are there so many rowdyish Cricket fans in Austria?
Strange....

Johanna Y. · Post by **Johanna Y.** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:08 pm

Hi all!

I think have done now enough work for solving this caricom special visa issue and this is how it went. Both Finnish Foreign Ministry and KLM (where I bought our flight tickets), told me to contact High Commision of T&T in London which I did. There I found very specific information who will need a visa and how to get. And Finnish citizens don't need it. They also advised to get information from the following website http://www.immigration.gov.tt/.
As a conclusion we are not getting this special visa and we'll see how it turns out in less than two weeks. You will be the first ones to know if we are coming back on the same plane

.

I agree with you Jo B and Roland, after the reseach I've done I also think that the visa is for those traveling to several caricom countries and making it easier for them. That makes sense. Guys, keep your fingers crossed on January 16th...

Johanna

Maja M · Post by **Maja M** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:43 pm

Hey everyone.
Whoa I can tell you that this info really got me worried.

Johanna, I did something similar to you and called some Carib-travel agents and KLM which I'm flying with too. Now KLM gave me some info that was un-verified about not needing a visa if travelling from Sweden(that's info recieved via their intern-communication) and the agency said that they've all been stunned by this info and that they only knew that the decision will be final on Jan the 15th.

One of them(can't remember which one at the mo) said that the likelyhood of a tourist staying for less than three months and with a return ticket needing a visa is small. So one can only hope. Since you recieved info on that Finnish citizens don't need a visa I'm presuming that the same goes for Swedes. Good Luck and guys keep us posted on further info.

Cheers everyone! 20 days left now

Lina Mallon · Post by **Lina Mallon** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:42 am

I just received a phone call from the embassy in the UK. HE said they have changed the rules and Swedes need a Visa, it takes 4 weeks but he said that since it was only put in place now then if you are travelling within the month of Jan or beginning of Feb you can print off the form, bring a passport photo and credit card (you can't pay cash) to pay US$100 and yo can get it on arrival in Tobago. He promised me they will not send me back home on return flight.

Lina

Johanna Y. · Post by **Johanna Y.** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:19 pm

I just got the same phone call. I don't feel very happy about paying the extra USD 100, but I'm glad they called me...good service.

Johanna

Lina Mallon · Post by **Lina Mallon** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:32 pm

Johanna, If you get access to a computer with internet in Tobago, can you please let us know if you had any problem? I know you are on holidays so I assume you will stay well away from computers but if you happen to pass one.

Fingers crossed it will all be grand!

Maja M · Post by **Maja M** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:44 pm

Now that's just crappy news!!!!
I was not counting on paying an extra 100USD. That money could have been spent on activities and good food.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:53 pm

Welcome to the Caribbean!!!!

This whole situation just amazes and, frankly, disgusts me. I would expect 16 year old school kids to organise themselves better than Caricom and those governments associated with this clearly incompetent organisation.

Do they want visitors or not? It is bad enough expecting certain visitors to pay US$100 for a scrap of useless paper, but their total inability to make the situation clear to their own embassies, High Commissions and the travel industry generally just defies reason.

I have tried to get to the bottom of this but everyone you speak to tells a different story. Nobody seems to know what it means.