US increases visa processing fees for Caribbean visitors

The United States Department of State on Tuesday published a Final Rule regarding increases to certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees for Caribbean and other visitors The increases, published Tuesday in the US Federal Register, will become effective on May 30, 2023

The State Department said the fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition-based NIVs, such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from US$160 to US$185

The fee for certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from US$190 to US$205, the State Department said, adding that the fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from US$205 to US$315

The State Department also said that the increased fees affect the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over

Barbados has recorded its first case of methamphetamine (meth) and health authorities are warning members of the public to avoid the drug at all costs since it could lead to their death.

Methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug, is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity

Home Affairs and Information Minister, Wilfred Abrahams, who confirmed the presence of the on the island, described meth as a

“serious situation” that is of great concern to the authorities

Abrahams flanked by the Director of Forensic Sciences Centre (FSC), Cheryl Corbin; Senior Registrar at the Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Ronald Chase, and Senior Superintendent of Police, Anthony Warner, said the drug “takes the form of a white odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol

“Meth is extremely harmful,” Abrahams said, reiterating that it was also illegal

He said that meth acts like a stimulant, and even in small doses, could increase wakefulness, and physical activity, and can decrease appetite In addition, the drug is also known to cause cardiovascular problems, including rapid heart

Senior Superintendent Warner said while there were “ some challenges with border security” the police were doing their best to identify the sources, the routes, and trends that people would employ to get the drugs into the country

He noted that as recently as March 15, a quantity of meth was intercepted in San Juan en route from Canada to Barbados He said that Barbados would be seen as a transshipment point to move drugs from the source country to the intended country

“Any information, regardless of how small or insignificant you might think that information is, it might be the one piece that we need to fit into a bigger picture to solve the problem that we have,” the Senior Superintendent said

Suriname’s President denies presence of foreign soldiers is to prop up his gov’t

Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi says the presence of military troops from overseas is not intended to keep his administration in office as well as to help the government deal with a spate of protests in recent months

“The social media machine in Suriname is running perfectly, I can say that One of the reports was that the government had called in the assistance of the Dutch army to ensure that no demonstrations would take place Assistance for maintaining order,” President Chandrikapersad Santaokhi said as more than 200 Dutch and American soldiers arrived here to participate in the jungle training in the Ayoko Barracks in the Para district

Last Thursday, the government and the business community said they would not accept a repeat of ‘February 17’ when protesters stormed the National Assembly and looted several businesses

So far, 112 persons suspected of gross and violent looting, theft, vandalism and sedition have been identified and taken into custody

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS