Bimini District Travel Forum

Hi!

I'm from england. I'm 24 and I'm training to be a teacher. My boyfriend is doing a degree in marine biology and he is hoping to come and work in Bimini for next years work placement. I would love to go out with him! Can anyone tell me if this would be at all possible? Could I get a visa? How long would I be able to stay and work? I do have loads of bar and waitressing experience so I wouldn't mind doing that!

Please help!

Thanks,
Amy

This is copied from a Bahamian web site. http://www.thebahamasguide.com/facts/immigration.html

Most nationals of foreign countries residing in or visiting the Bahamas are required to be in the possession of a valid passport. Exceptions are made in the case of visitors from the United States, Canada and the U.K.,who are required to show proof of citizenship such as a passport, or a birth certificate.

Pssports are required by all persons entering the Bahamas except for * United Kingdom (England, etc) citizens and its colonies on temporary visits not exceeding a stay of three weeks.

Visas are required by all persons entering the Bahamas except for
* British citizens and Canadian citizens for visits less than 30 days

Tourists must have a return ticket and a the necessary legal documents to allow them to enter into another country. You could also be asked to provide evidence that you are financially able to maintain yourself while in the Bahamas, as a visitor without a work permit (a tourist) you are forbidden from engaging in employment in the Bahamas.

Visitors can stay in the Bahamas for a maximum of eight months if they can produce evidence that they are financial able to support themselves (without having a job). All visitors classified as tourists are forbidden to work in the Bahamas, under the penalty of deportation.

How to obtain a work permit

According to the Bahamas government,

"Necessary work permits for key personnel will be granted. Businesses requiring permits for persons other than key personnel are encouraged to discuss these requests with The Bahamas Investment Authority in advance."

Basically the rule is that no foreign immigrant may be offered a job that a skilled Bahamian is 'qualified' to do. Now 'qualified' is a very weasel word, which basically means that if you can push the right buttons there is no one qualified, and if you push the wrong ones everyone is qualified.

Basically any job that does not require a higher education is out of limits to foreigners (such as a bartender, bar-maid, housekeeper, etc.). Jobs which most Bahamians think they are too good for are easy to get (such as farm worker which is usually happily taken by Haitian immigrants).

Any employer that has job vacancies must first advertise it locally and if he becomes unsuccessful then he will have to apply to the Department of Immigration for permission to recruit outside of the Bahamas. And the individual will be asked to present the necessary document to show his 'qualifications' such as a college degree.

Each person granted a work permit (fees for work permits go from $250 for a farm worker to $7,500 for professionals and executives) is required to place a bond to repatriate the employee and his dependents and to pay any public charges, including medical expenses, incurred by the employee.

First off, work permits take forever to get (I have been waiting for 6 months now since I applied) The Bahamian way is very very slow, especially when it comes to the government

As a tourist, you are not allowed to work anywhere and you will not be able to get any kind of waitressing/bar job. Chances are virtually zero. All jobs such as gardening and such are take by legal/illegal Haitians who work for relatively little money.

You may be able to pull off staying for an extended period of time by extending your stay, or simply hopping to Florida and returning again as a tourist the next day.