US visitors to pre-clear, China gets visa-free entry
Premier Alden McLaughlin speaks at the CEO conference, 2 February 2017
(CNS): The premier has announced some immigration changes that will impact travellers to Cayman and Caymanian travellers. Speaking at Cayman Economic Outlook Thursday, Alden McLaughlin said his government was close to finalising an agreement for immigration pre-clearance at Miami International Airport for eligible passengers coming to Cayman. He also revealed that Chinese visitors with a valid US, Canadian or British visa would no longer require a Cayman visa and the same deal will also apply to Jamaicans.
The announcement about the Miami pre-clearance brought the only mid-speech applause from the business audience, as the premier made his traditional annual address at the conference, hosed by Fidelity, in which he largely focused on the current economic improvements.
The new announcements were confined to the immigration changes being made to ease entry for tourists and encourage business visitors. He said the agreement with the US would “enhance the experience of passengers” because they would avoid “local immigration lines”, allowing them to go straight to Customs baggage claim.
“This will also have the added benefit of improving strategic border control cooperation between the Cayman Islands and the United States,” the premier added.
But it is not only visitors from the US that are getting beneficial treatment. Speaking about Cayman’s developing relationship with China, now the second biggest economy in the world, McLaughlin said his government had “good reason to believe” the relationship was set to improve, and with more Chinese looking for a Caribbean vacation or place to invest, he expected more visitors would be coming from China to Cayman.
“Cabinet has agreed to amend the Immigration Regulations to exempt nationals of the People’s Republic of China from the requirement to possess a visitors’ visa for the Cayman Islands for a stay of up to 30 days,” he said. “This will apply where the person possesses a valid unexpired visa for Canada, the United States or the United Kingdom and they arrive in the Cayman Islands directly from the country for which they hold the visa. The latter requirement is to ensure that their US, UK or Canadian visa is authentic.”
He said the exemption would also apply to Jamaican nationals. “This will facilitate not only ease of travel for our visitors from Jamaica but also assist business between our islands. Jamaica and Cayman share historic, familial and cultural ties and I am very pleased that we have been able to make this change,” he said.
To help local travellers, McLaughlin said government had pursued an agreement with the United States for Cayman to join the exclusive “Six-month Club”, which means a local passport holder travelling to the US will no longer need to have a full six months clear on the passport.
“This means that holders of Cayman Islands passports will be able to enter the USA so long as their passport is valid for the period of their stay in the USA,” he said. “This is a tremendous achievement in these uncertain days and makes travel to the US more convenient for Caymanians. This should come into force before the end of March.”
He said the initiatives were part of government’s strategy to draw new business and traffic to Cayman and to promote growth in the economy as well as jobs and opportunities for local people.
McLaughlin said Cayman needed a fair and “transparent immigration process”, but given the massive immigration over the past four decades, Cayman has had its share of challenges, from work permits to permanent residency.
“I have to confess that managing these issues is a task akin to walking the razor’s thin edge, but suffice it to say that we will manage it with the same resolve that has seen us rise to the top of the economic pyramid in the region,” he said, though there was no indication about how this would be achieved.
This will likely be unstaffed MRTD photo booths, similar to those now becoming standard equipment and common sites at arrivals areas in many western countries. Where available, we will likely share departure-area machines with several other destinations.
Pre-clearance will likely be optional, to the extent that the machines exist or function.
The advantage will be the new possibility of handing in your paper “clearance” receipt upon landing and going straight to baggage area (to perhaps stand and wait in another room), instead of using current human kiosk line, or using what will be similar (novel) machines in Cayman.
Note: many issued CI Passports do not yet have biometric RFID chips. Our politicians fought and delayed implementation of this global standard, working extra hard to keep us in the dark ages. Consequently, if this is an RFID-reliant network, it (ironically) may not be truly helpful for some Caymanians with older-style passports until those are renewed with chips over the next nine-ten years.
I’d just ask that those infuriated Caymanians with older passports that will see visitors and permit holders with ICAO-compliant e-Passport chips sailing through while they wallow in a long queue of stymied countrymen – apportion the blame where it belongs.
124pm and 655pm unfortunately the record states otherwise Your heart wrenching tale of your VHF symantics is just as bogus and your little posts The fact that the governor has emergency power during any state of emergency or disasters. The HMS Richmond F239 was not run off as you state but brought water tablets and a few tarps and stored water at a location near the airport which they retrieved when they left with your useless governor so he good bathe and eat on board. The Commander made the statement of them being exhausted after Grenada please do your research before you run your trap. If all was so factual as you claim why then after Hurricane Ivan during a hurricane exercise FCO official admitted their mistakes about hurricane relief . The banking industy kick started after the Bahamian PM did what we may have to do eventually with parasites just like you. I like how you tried to dismiss any role our own people and “ORIGINAL” US Citizens and Canadian residents had in this bank industry and Cayman’s development. No too focus on some no name local politician who has interfered with your little parastic business interest. You don’t like here why don’t you go home
While America is trying to reduce Chinese influence, the Cayman Island opens it doors. Be careful opening Pandora’s box.
These are pre-approved existing Visa holders of alliance countries, please spare us the xenophobic remarks. Great news for the couple dozen visitors we’d receive annually in this category.
I don’t have a problem with Jamaicans per se — but the criminal elements!!!. Visas bring an added later of screening. KEEP ALL THE HOOPS!!!
Who do you think is tougher on Visas, us or the US, Canada or the UK? If they have one of those way more comfort than one issued by our Immigration department, 5% of whose staff are on compulsory leave pending investigation.
Yeah, but it was the US who had issues with their visas years ago. Our staff might have issues but at least our visas are legit.
Too late ….. They just keep coming!
CI Govt strategy over last 20 plus years in a nutshell.
1. Get elected on blind allegiances, big promises and strategies.
2. Make a lot of noise in 1st year in power.
3. Go to sleep for a couple of years. Ignore making tough decisions. Ignore the media. Implement nothing. Bicker with the opposition. Make sleep inducing 1 hour speeches in MLA assembly. Deflect hard questions. Spend lots of public money.
4. Wake up 6 months before next election. Finally appear before the media again. Spin a lot of crap about supposed achievements. Ignore point (1).
5. Revert to a new (1) and start again.
This country suffers from a continual cycle of an underperforming govt. They are never subjected to mass protests. They are not held to account for the gap between their results and their previous promises. And i think the constituency has to take a lot of the blame for their blind allegiances to candidates.
Aldens speech above is a prime example of how they will trumpet a random new policy announcement, while at the same time deflecting a more pressing issue. Classic bait and switch. And it worked here! Most of the comments here have been directed toward the emotively charged topic of visa restrictions.. but the final part of the article, which related to the ongoing PR debacle, has been glossed over. i.e. in response to a query on the PR issue, he says:
“I have to confess that managing these issues is a task akin to walking the razor’s thin edge, but suffice it to say that we will manage it with the same resolve that has seen us rise to the top of the economic pyramid in the region,” he said, though there was no indication about how this would be achieved.
47 words of utter nonsense! Managing these issues is their damn job. Also, anyone remember the dump? The port? FFS. Cayman voters deserve so much more from their government.
Cayman is a British Overseas Territory, so why aren’t fellow British citizens pre-cleared in London?
Too many natives from Africa, Europe and Caribbean are now ‘British citizens’ would be my guess
So racism is a valid policy?
Pre clear customs as well? Who in the US is going to enforce our customs limits, or for that matter police people entering without work permits? Are we going to station Cayman officials in every US port of departure, or just ask the airlines to collect the immigration and customs forms? When you pre clear entering the US you do both – in front of US officials.
Immigration and HM Customs are separate entities. HM Customs lies beyond Baggage Claim and does not change, as the article infers.
Another stupid plan for government to waste more money. Is government going to provide housing in Miami or are they going to ride the airlines up and down each day? If it is a trip every day for 2 officers the the airfare alone will be a quarter of a million dollars per year. But the shift would be too long for just 2 officers so the airfare cost could be much higher. Add to this meal allowance etc. Then the lost duty revenue of whatever these immigration officers can bring in under the duty allowance for themselves and their family and friends. Only Alden could be dumb enough to fall for this money wasting scheme. For the cost of this program immigration could employ 5-10 new officers and speed the process up in Cayman.
No he wants to swell the civil service payroll more so he & his partners will be able to get some more votes. He is a very smart and manipulative person. And everyone thought Big Mac was bad!
Immigration will be scaled back and replaced with automated machines.
Strange about Chinese, there is a hidden agenda.
Typical rubbish Not a single useful benefit for Caymanian passport holders 🙁
But hey we get the leadership we elect….
Despite the optimistic spin, I doubt the Cayman Islands had much say in the matter. This seems like the next predictable stage of ICAO’s MRTD (Machine Readable Travel Document) security practices rolling out to its 191 member states. What it means in reality is that Cayman’s dysfunctional Immigration database (and records of all residents) will now be distributed to all member states for use in automated MRTD photo kiosks (or whatever else they use it for). Say cheese to super convenience!
If the Chinese are coming than the Casino is next! Not soon enough!!! DING DING DING!
For the life of me, I don’t understand the reason behind giving Chinese green light. Have they thought about consequences? Do they want Chinese nationals dominate here? They would. You give them a finger, and they’ll take the whole hand. I know that because I grew up in a country where slowly, but consistently Chinese presence was expanding. They even paid their way into a local government.
The same goes for Russians who owe the most expensive properties in London for example.
GREAT!!! More Jamaicans!!!
Why stop a bad thing?!
So….does that apply for Caymanians with US visas could travel to Jamaica without obtaining a “Jamaican Visa”
since the Premier APPROVED this for them??????
More who will come and seek employment. Could you make certain in your new vision.
Makes no difference to the work permit regs. Just entry. And via the US. It’s superficial – designed to look like they are doing SOMETHING on immigration, but without actually doing anything.
Human Rights Watch has done a marvelous job of exposing the condition of human rights in China.
If you are interested, go here.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/china-and-tibet
The very ones that will be welcomed here will be those who are aligned with these draconian policies.
The US has frequently invoked national security as a justification for policies that violate international law. These include the torture of detainees in the US “war on terror,” secretive targeted killings abroad, and indefinite detention without trial at Guantanamo Bay. Within the US, the government has conducted unfair terrorism investigations that in some cases have effectively entrapped indigent and mentally ill persons. Large-scale surveillance by the National Security Agency is hampering the ability of journalists and lawyers to do their work and corroding US democracy. We have consistently called for the US to provide fair trials in civilian courts to all terrorism suspects, ensure accountability for past abuses, including at the highest levels of government, and bring all national security policies in line with US obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.
© 2008 Reuters
So they have traded our land, our people, our small businesses and our children for international recognition and now they are coming with another kiss-butt policy. I think the express-entry and other provisions are not bad ideas – but exactly what are WE getting for all this added consideration and convenience?
WE get more tourist dollars from the biggest single tourism source we have and WE get not to have to stand in line waiting for immigration on our return from Miami.
Higher real estate values in Grand Cayman is what you will get.
Sorry if this is a silly question but are Caymanians pre-clearing as well to return home or do we need to line up at immigration?
As I typed that I kind of answered my own question. I’d say yes, as the entire plane would have had to pre-clear.
What about flights from NY and the other gateway cities that fly direct?
Anyway, great move!!! Can you imagine having only carry on and then swanning off the plane and right out to the sidewalk?!?! Cool.
Immigration, not Customs.
You are right, it isn’t clear but I suppose the whole flight would have to be precleared or it wouldn’t work.
Think most countries now realise most of the Caymanians are probably now status holders, probably factor in lack of mutual agreement, the UK alone will soon have thousands of Jamaicans-Caymanians and when one batch leaves the CIG will hire another batch, leave some here and send rest to UK
These are fantastic achievements for Cayman. The spinoff for Caymanians will be huge.
Best news out of Immigration in 5 years.
Chinese don’t want to come here. Too many Jamaicans.
Agreed. Someone seems to be hellbent on turning Cayman into Jamaica 2.0. This will only spell disaster. But hey, as long as those wealthy few keep making money who gives a……
09.36, however racist you may be, don’t project your hatred on a nation of 1.5bn people all hate Jamaicans. Most of them don’t even know or care where Jamaica or Cayman are.
You are wrong. Chinese could not care less about Jamaicans. Chinese will be coming here now as they start buying real estate and making all of those who own real estate on Seven Mile Beach and South Sound richer than they already are as they buy properties as properties will appreciate further in those areas. By the way, 9:36, time to get off your anti Jamaican horse.
“Chinese could not care less about Jamaicans”. Are you sure they can’t care less? Who cares about Jamaicans in the first place? You’re wrong Garfield, we can care less.
I guess you have never gone to Jamaica
But would never even think about living there! Third world country!
Clearly you haven’t been to Jamaica where slot of Chinese live and have businesses.!!
Dumb statement Jamaica have the largest Chinese population in the Caribbean
Exactly! One of richest men in the world is Jamaican/Chinese Canadian, African Jamaicans were worried about the Filipinos?? See how karma works? They trying to hate one group and another coming to do more damage! Should have been grateful and tried to treat Cayman with respect
Where they still cook and eat dogs!
China has the worlds highest population. Chinese will be spread out amongst neighboring and far reaching countries as they make more than 20% of earths population but, I suspect you we’re not aware of this since your comment clearly percieves your lack of knowledge. How is that working out for you?
China has the worlds highest population making up more than 20% of the whole earths populace. Of course the chinese will be spread out in the world. What a dumb comment.
Chinese don’t care, they taking over businesses in Jamaica too and depending on how many non-party-Cayman-patriots are elected, they’ll be coming here to build that port etc and help create balance to Dart (think the rich Caribbean folk were tired of feeling like beggars)
Stand up to the USA stand up to the USA hmmmmm are you for real 439am yes and who should we be like our European Colonial Broke Ass Masters who have tried to close this place down on every turn with there puppet Piece S#@*% Osama. Speak for yourself you idiot we need to stand up to those just like you who would have us starve to death. You obviously are not and Hurricane Ivan survivor where even our own colonial saviors abandon us, while trying to transfer our financial industry elsewhere. Some would like us to forget so they came after with their European union cheque book to pay for the cover up of their little undermining attempt. Hate and Comtempt for Cayman and its people has always been prevelant not by Trump though.
Naya, you don’t need your Colonial Masters (glad you recognize that they are your masters) nor Obama nor Trump nor Putin to close Cayman down. You are quite capable of doing that all on your own. Trust me on this one. And then try to work out why you may be held in contempt, OK?
I also would like to apologise for introducing “real fact” into your “alternate fact” news, it was a certain Cayman premier who declined assistance from the UK after Ivan, so clearly you were not here either.
Oh Please spare us everything is Mckeewa i guess he elected Donald Trump too oh also for the chewing gum stuck to your shoe. Well I see their appointment of Baroness Scotland to the Commonwealth secretary has gone well too that must be Mackeewa fault too idiot. The fact is when UK wants to do something in its Territory its done by stooges just like you stop blaming others for incompetence.
wow….this sounds like alternate facts.
Actually McKeeva turned the Royal Navy Caribbean Patrol away from Caymans shores and imposed a virtual news blackout in the UK and around the world.
And before you say he didn’t, I was here and talking to the RN offshore on VHF, I remember the tone of helplessness given by the crew on board.
Also, it was never ‘your’ financial industry, Caymans offshore industry was originally a satellite of the City of London and has become an international hub for many international, (not Cayman) banks or other financial and offshore institutions. What the international community made, they can take away. It’s called business.
The only industry that you can truly claim to be ‘yours’ is owned by Caymanian family cartels who give nothing to their own and who over inflate prices that hit poor Caymanians the hardest. Even tourism is run by totally incompetent politicians and others who fail to recognise where the real tourist money is based, and it’s not in the US.
Unfortunately your little rant is typical of the myopic view of a minority of Caymanians who believe anything their self serving representatives tell them. Get an education and learn to read, maybe you might learn something about the real world outside of Cayman.
So what we have now is preference being given to enter the territory to US citizens whilst FULL British passport holders have to line up (and justify entry, but that’s another issue) and wait to enter a British Overseas Territory – you really couldn’t make this up ?!
You should have realised by now they only want financial backing or guarantees and passports
Perhaps they could also introduce customs pre-clearance to try to stop the fire arms and bullets that keep coming in.
And jail those stupid and arrogant enough to take guns with them. Hicks.
Expect a lot of Chinese investors buying your real estate and eventually becoming Caymanians.
Mr. Premier, you should INSIST that Jamaica do the same for caymanians, that is if Caymanians have a U. S. , Canadian or British Visa , then they will not need to get a Jamaican Visa , to go to Jamaica, come on Mr. PREMIER that would only be fare and right.
Except you would have to fly there via Miami.
9.37am I hope you realize that for Jamaicans to benefit from this, they have to come here directly from the country that issued them the visa.For example that would mean that a Jamaican with a US visa could use that visa to travel to Cayman only if he/she arrives here directly from the US.That individual could not use the US visa to enter Cayman directly from Jamaica.Should Jamaica return the favour it would mean that a Caymanian with a US visa could travel from the US to Jamaica on that visa , but would not be able to use it to travel direct from Cayman to Jamaica. Not sure if that is what you want to happen.
Like the Chinese developer who is about to put 1,000 condo’s in South Sound?
Did not know about that. Mr.McKeeva Bush had tried to engage them in building the pier, thanks God, it did not fly. Nothing personal, but Chinese expansion is not something to joke about. Their encroaching abilities have been tested for centuries. And this island is too small to add them into the mix.
Your right, if you thought Real Estate was expensive now wait till the Chinese get here. Vancouver had to pass laws to curtail their Real Estate market. Downtown and around is basically empty condos with Chinese owners.
Wait and see how fast high rise buildings would get approvals once Chinese put their foot on the Caymanian land.
Bang on A. Chinese money is laundered in Vancouver on a massive scale and will soon start being laundered here. Cayman has no idea what the full ramifications of this decision will be. However, current owners of real estate on Island will be delighted as their real estate assets appreciate dramatically.
@ Anonymous says:
02/02/2017 at 10:24 pm
“It’s time to bring in James Austin-Smith here. …”
Umm..are you referring to the same country that former British PM David Cameron loaded up jets with business committees, heads and representatives and flew to with British taxpayers money, cap in hand, looking for an opportunity to engage in trade … on more than one occasion?
Are we referring to the same country?
Maybe you ought to forward your kind advice to the Human Rights Commission of our “mother country” before you do so here. After all, it is her duty to pave the way and lead by an example of “good governance”.
– Whodatis
the usual drivel from who….always pointing fingers elsewhere to justify the daily nonsense that is the cayman islands…..
Dear 8:44am, Cayman is not perfect, nor is any other place, perhaps you would feel better if you re located to somewhere else. You know…a place without the daily nonsense!
Doesn’t look like he was referring to any country. He was referring to a person in a Constitutional position.
Can you at least keep your trolling semi-relevant?
Ah WHO, so missed you. Are you writing from that place that regularly fails to uphold Human Rights laws in so many respects or has your Cayman Myopia overcome you once more? Or would you prefer that I didn’t point out the hypocrisy of your statement? Although I don’t disagree with your sentiment, people in glass houses should not throw stones…
At least my island nation, as imperfect as it is, has never officially categorised human beings as sub-species AND awarded priority of reptiles there over (as a means to achieve national objectives) in these modern times.
Wish the same could be said about mother dearest.
Lastly, your final statement is pretty much an echo of my original point to the idiot that kicked off this circus.
He was referring to an individual. It’s you who are introducing the UK, and only by reference to Mr Austin Smiths country of origin. Want to ascribe someone’s personal conduct to the politics of the land of their birth? You sure you want to go there?
You want some syrup with that waffle?
We ask for decisions and innovation to help Caymanians. We must got it big time. Can you imagine a Sunday night flight from Miami full of Caymanians who can simply walk into customs..
How many of us have had to delay or cancel flights because our Passport had less then 6 month validity left.
The Chinese can invest and create hundreds of jobs for Caymanians.
And we still complain ….
Wtf??
Clearly some of us missed a few classes of Reading Comprehension back in the day.
Makes for great entertainment though.
Feel free to try again kiddos. As my Grade 3 teacher used to say; “We only fail when we stop trying.”
– Who
😉
What are Caymanians getting?NOTHING. We love to give…give…give. One really does nothing unless the people benefit.
Does anyone get anything in life unless they make an effort to earn it like the rest of the world? If you haven’t grasped it yet the ship “I am Caymanian so I am Owed Something” left port years ago. You actually have to do something now to earn your keep unless of course you work for Government. Its called competition and you will find it in every facet of life. So you might want to start competing instead of complaining and moaning like a spoilt little…….
hence the election results in the US – they also were tired of giving and being put back in line in their own country
Indeed 10.07 and the irony is, Trump is putting them back even further in line, they just have not worked that out yet..
My concern with this is that many of those will be seeking job opportunaties while visiting. And the way the system currently works we have a good idea of the results. Investing is one thing, but falling thru the cracks is another. We need to start vetting those already here or those who will fall into to no visa category. Drug testing for one. Many many employees currently working at the latest new hotel do drugs. And that is a fact including excessive drinking. If Caymanians have to do drug tests for certain jobs, for work permit holders should be the same. Before their permit and start work it should be done before approving any of them. Drug dealers doing real good business. That’s called lowering the demand.
A fact? Right. Did the voice in your head tell you that? BTW the Kimpton does drug test, as do most employers. They don’t impose the test just on Caymanians. It would be illegal to do so. Guess you are a Caymanian who failed the test?
So has Jam also removed the need for Caymanian kids and elderly to have visas to go there, as we have long done for Jamaicans?
Have we even asked for this?
exactly, has the premier checked the crime rate in that jurisdiction lately?
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20160125/murders-jamaica-higher-hottest-war-zone
No, maybe he is too busy checking the upsurge in crime, right here in the Cayman islands.
Maybe he should check it in the US of A first.
The Premier is clearly in election mode hoping to gain votes from those who can vote who got the 2003 Status Grants and their families.
That is what this is about plain and simple.
Let us not forget that Marcus Garvey’s own assessment of the state of the Jamaican people, whose lot he had grand visions of redeeming. In a speech delivered at the Collegiate Hall, Garvey complained that “to the cultured mind the bulk of our people are contemptible… Kingston and its environs are so infested with the uncouth and vulgar… that we of the cultured class feel positively ashamed to move about”.(Grant 2008)
Why would one of their National Hero’s speak so candidly if it were not true?
Cayman therefore needs to be extremely selective with those that we give PR to or use the backdoor of Government employment to stay on island, and even use the service clubs to infiltrate the society. Have a look around in the Ministries and one can see the trend of employment.
CIG…finding solutions to problems that don’t exist.
who said the ppm have no solutions????
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
people should have got up and walked out when he started to speak…..
zzzzzz Unfortunately you did not walk out, because you were asleep.
Great … the next move is for Caymanians being able to travel to the U.S. without a visa. :))
The Bahamas have had preclearance for U.S. entry for their citizens for decades.
It’s time to bring in James Austin-Smith here.
Mr Austin-Smith, as chair of the Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission what would you say to our “democratic” decision to let the nationals of a country that abuses its workforce and especially its women to get a fast track into Cayman?
Time to stand up and be counted, sir.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
…. didn’t think so.
Absolutely we should stand up to the USA and not let trumps hatred come to these shores
the nationalist hatred has been stronger in Cayman for decades before Tramp
Hillary, is that you?
LOL, were you looking in the mirror when you said that?
How about Caymanians having the ability to preclear Immigration in Cayman when traveling to the USA. That would have been an accomplishment. I’m all for Americans having the luxury of preclearance, that’s great. But how about doing something meaningful for the people who live here, and have that luxury reciprocated???
Being able to travel to the USA on a passport that is not expiring before conclusion of stay is not a big deal. After all, why delay renewing your passport until it is down to the final weeks??
even americans have to clear going into the US your kind is not entitled to anything special as a matter of fact caymanians should be screened 2x as hard due to all the phony status given out over the years
946, When you enter the US you are granted a six month stay, check the stamps in your passport. They would not put a six month stamp in a passport expiring in a month. Its not a huge deal, but it is an accomplishment.
And pre-clearing on departure would be a huge deal for ALL visitors, not just the lucky residents that travel. I think we are a ways away as far as number of travellers to the US to justify US border control setting up an outpost here. When you do pre-clear, you technically have entered the United States, so a separate departure lounge for US travellers would be a start.
I think that it was going to be too expensive to do that – or rather CIG didn’t want to pay that much.
I believe it was determined in the past that there is not enough volume of people travelling to the US to justify having a full US Immigration party here to pre clear. Correct me if I am wrong but that would be amazing if such would occur. On another note, encouraging Asians to come to this little Island could be a detriment. Look at Vancouver and Toronto. Everywhere you look there are Asians and they have completely taken over…you want to talk about bad drivers…careful what you wish for Alden.
Racist.
So Canadians feeling squeezed out eh? I thought they were totaltolerantarians
Wow, had no idea Donald Trump reads CNS and posts comments. Usually you tweet racial stereotypes like these Donald rather than make anonymous comments on CNS.
Why don’t you morons get on with your own countries problems which it appears you have a lot of and leave our President alone. Believe you me he has a lot more important things to deal with then your little island politics. We read and watch from here in the USA and you all are just acting like another banana republic. If you don’t like our country well just stay the hell out of it. Grow up and make your own country great again!
Racist much?
You clowns do not even know what racist attitudes are as you live in a bubble. Grow up and get real. Enough of this chicken poop nonsense already.
Well about time all the new Caymanians start to feel true competition, heck we can reach that 100,000 within 2-3 years now, if they stay and we might even bring in money versus having to send it to the Philipines and Jamaica.
Totally agree. Shouldn’t this be a two way street?
The USA and CDA already use MRTD photo kiosks at their airports. You get an X or an O and join one of two lines. Say cheese!
Pre clearance into the US has been looked at before, most recently as part of the review of the airport. Problem is that the need to have entirely separate departure areas and pay for a US team to be based here makes the cost astronomical – believe it was something like $21m, and significant recurring cost in regard to the wages and accommodation of the US team.
I think Bermuda manages to have this facility, although I have no idea how much they get charged, having used it to New York the process is great, although probably not worth $21mio!
I doubt there will be any staffing. More likely a couple hard-working robotic MRTD photo kiosks linked to Cayman’s super-reliable Immigration system that will spit out a photo receipt with either an X or an O. Then two lines on Cayman end: “the good times” express lane to Luggage Hall and HMCustoms and the cattle-pen “travelers purgatory” for those others.
US$21M…Where are they staying? At the Ritz? Come on…Cayman can build the facility and let the US run it. There is no where in the world that you can tell have say 10 officers here to preclear outgoing flights is going to cost US$21M.. that’s ridiculous!
@9:46pm – Erm when was the last time that you travelled? Immigration pre-clearance traveling from Cayman has been in effect for about 3 – 4 years for most airlines.
I travel several times a month, and there is not, and has not, ever been any pre clearance. Yeah sure the US authorities get notification before you arrive, but you still have to clear on arrival. As compared to flying from Bermuda or Canada, which has pre clearance, where you walk off the plane into the domestic terminal and into the US. When is the last time YOU travelled, or do you just not understand the difference between pre clearing immigration and US CBP getting prior notification of your passport?
@8:57: I have been given that so-called pre-clearance only go find there is no corresponding line in Miami. I have yet to benefit.