Cayman Net News: Immigration ‘administration costs’

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Immigration ‘administration costs’

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Dear Sir,

I spent nearly two hours in the Immigration Office today, (30 January). I arrived on the Island in October and for reasons that are not relevant here, I need a long extension to my permit.

The first extension was until January 31st and it cost me $50. I queued and was told that I was in the wrong line and that I did not need an extension, I needed an endorsement.

I queued again but the letter sent over two weeks ago by a government personnel department could not be found. I had to go back to the original queue and ask for a further extension, which I now have, until the end of March.

The clerk spent a minute tapping into a computer, stamped my passport and then asked me for $100.

When I enquired what it was for she said, ‘administration costs.’ The administration in my case took less than two minutes.

Mr and Mrs Achilles got off cheap.

Tim Firebrace

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