In September the Department of Immigration implemented a new $200 non refundable fee for all extension of stay applications. Immigration officials recently sat for an interview with ZNS News to clarify public misconceptions about the new policy.

Assistant Director Of Immigration, Rudolph Ferguson said, “nothing has changed.  The Bahamas Government and indeed Parliament would have initiated a processing fee for all visitors extension and that is law.  That is not something that the immigration department arbitrarily did, that was done by Parliament, therefore that’s across the board.”

Ferguson also spoke the the process of obtaining an extension.  He said, “the government has made a determination that all persons entering will be granted thirty days across the board.  If you choose to stay in The Bahamas as a visitor beyond that period of time then you will come in for what we call an extension of your visitor’s stay.”

The Assistant Director assured that national security is a consideration when granting stay extensions.  Persons in need of an extension can apply anywhere in the country and can pay through the department’s online portal.