The Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services Launches TCI Status Merit-Based Points System Survey and Online Consultation

#Providenciales, December 1, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands’ Government seeks to adopt a merit based point system in accordance with the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance 2015, and for a modern, transparent and fair application of a pre-defined protocol in the treatment of applications.

The Turk and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance 2015, Sections 12 and 13 establishes a Turks and Caicos Islander Status Commission with the responsibility of reviewing applications for the grant of Islander Status, otherwise then by marriage, and for making recommendations to the Governor for the grant of such status.

In reviewing such applications, sections 4(7)(i) and 4(9) of the cited ordinance require the Commission to consider whether or not an applicant meets any prescribed criteria, as may be set by the Governor, as guidelines for the evaluation of the degree to which an applicant’s personal and professional attributes proves valuable to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This approach will clearly outline the needs and requirement of the country for persons seeking to obtain permanent status as a Turks and Caicos Islander.

Similar point and merit based systems are currently being used by a number of countries like the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to regulate and coordinate the composition and growth of their populations in order to meet and satisfy the economic and immigration needs and goals of their nations.

The Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services therefore invites the public, to review and provide feedback to the values, attributes and considerations for a merit based system by undertaking a survey.

Benefits

The key outcomes of the new system will be:

• Better identifying and attracting of migrants who have the most to contribute to the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• A more efficient, transparent and objective application process;
• Improved compliance and reduced scope for abuse.

Purpose of survey

The survey seeks to gain an understanding of those attributes and values that the public deems to be most beneficial to the long term development and growth of the population in having persons qualify to be granted Turks and Caicos Islander Status.

The survey seeks to rank those values that the public deems as the priorities to be considered in a merit based system.

The survey seeks to understand the needs and attitudes of person towards the systems of citizenship and ways to gain status in the TCI.

Furthermore, the survey is designed to rank and extrapolate the value persons place on the tiers and levels as indicators and educators of entry to immigration.

Duration

The survey will be online for three weeks starting December 1st – 21st, 2018.

Method

The survey will be the primary method of collection of public opinions.

The survey will also be printed and distributed at the DC offices of the outer islands and in the Grand Turk and Providenciales Customer Service Centers for persons without online access.

In addition to the survey persons are invited to send comments/opinions in relation to the proposed points system to the following email address that will be accessible during this consultation period:
tcistatusconsultation@gov.tc

Target audience

The survey and methods will be targeted to all citizens in the TCI.   In particular, the survey seeks the input of Turks and Caicos Islanders and those having obtained Turks and Caicos Islander Status prior to the commencement of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance 2015.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

To access the survey please click the link below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/islanderstatus

Press Release: TCIG