Government says vetting for 12,765 migrants in Amnesty Program will continue until March 2024

Published by BBNTEAM at November 8, 2023

Posted: Wednesday, November 8, 2023. 1:12 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration and Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor, and Local Government have announced that vetting of migrants to receive permanent residency under the Amnesty Program will continue until March 31, 2024.

Accordingly, stakeholders are informed that the valid “white” Amnesty Program receipts issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration are a legal document entitling migrants to (1) remain in Belize and (2) to work in Belize until a final decision is made on their application.

A total of 12,765 migrants were approved, originally from 32 different countries. Processing of security clearances is being conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, particularly the Special Branch of the Belize Police Department.

17 of the 18 registration centers opened countrywide for the program are now closed, with only the Belmopan office still open for processing.

Minister Eamon Courtenay and others have expressed disappointment that only a fraction of the estimated 40 to 60 thousand migrants in Belize participated in the program, due to various issues.

The Government of Belize reiterates that the amnesty program is being implemented for the following purposes: managing migration; strengthening national security; assisting economic development by legalizing migrants; and providing humanitarian assistance to those who most need it.

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