12 Registered as British Citizens
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| Newly registered British citizens are photographed on Tuesday, 7 October, 2008, with Chairman of the Immigration Board, Mrs. Margaret Borde (seated, far left), Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Dennis Jennings; His Excellency the Governor, David Pearey; and Registrar-General Stephanie Benn. (Photo by GIS/Aldrin Rabsatt)Newly registered British citizens are photographed on Tuesday, 7 October, 2008, with Chairman of the Immigration Board, Mrs. Margaret Borde (seated, far left), Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Dennis Jennings; His Excellency the Governor, David Pearey; and Registrar-General Stephanie Benn. (Photo by GIS/Aldrin Rabsatt) |
Roadtown, Tortola - Twelve people received their British citizenship today at a ceremony held at Government House.Governor David Pearey congratulated the newest recipients and presented the 12 candidates with certificates of registration.
“The new freedoms you will now enjoy come too with new responsibilities, moral responsibilities rather than legal ones. I hope as you exercise your new freedoms for travel and employment you will never forget your home base, the British Virgin Islands, where you all have put down your roots and where your contributions to the development of the Territory have been outstanding,” Governor Pearey said.
Registrar General Mrs. Stephanie Benn outlined the many rights and privileges of a British citizen and encouraged the new citizens to treat their certificates with special care. Mrs. Benn also informed them of new rules governing documents accompanying British passport applications.
“Recently, the United Kingdom Identity and Passport Service announced new rules governing the application for a passport. They no longer will be accepting laminated documents and passport pictures must now be on a gray or cream background.”
Among other privileges, British citizens have the right to a British passport, and to live and work in the United Kingdom (UK) or any other European Union country. They may also travel to the United States of America under the visa-waiver programme for UK citizens.
This is third registration ceremony for this year, marking the candidates’ fulfilment of the British citizenship by registration process.
As a result of the British Overseas Territories Act of 2002, British citizenship was extended to all citizens of British Overseas Territories (BOT). Persons naturalised as BOT citizens following May 21, 2002, do not automatically become British citizens but are eligible to register as British citizens. ~~Adz:Right~~
British Virgin Islands News