Belizean Americans Take Advantage of Immigration Services in Chicago

For Belizeans living thousands of miles from home, the opportunity to access government services without having to travel back to Belize can be a major convenience. That was the reality for hundreds of Belizeans who turned out for the Ministry of Immigration’s mobile services in Illinois where passports were renewed, nationality applications processed and long-distance connections to home were renewed. More than three hundred people accessed the services, while for many, the immigration clinic also became an unexpected reunion with fellow Belizeans. Here are some of the faces and stories from Saturday’s diaspora clinic.

 

Emil Bevans, Belizean Living Abroad

“Been in America over fourteen fifteen years enjoying life but da time fi come back home to mi roots, mi soil. Basically the experience today with the diaspora clinic, one hundred percent.”

 

Gloria Alfaro, Belizean Living Abroad

“I’m born Belizean and I came here today to replace my daughter’s nationality. She is going to become Belizean too and then I have a son and a daughter so they will be Belizean nationality too. That’s why I’m here today”

 

Reporter

“And you, why is it important for you to be here?”

 

Belizean Living Abroad

“It’s important for me to be here because my mom, she loves Belize and loves Succotz so she’s planning to move out there very soon. And I want to be able to have all my documents ready and prepared so I can go over there.”

 

Philip Johnson, Belizean Living Abroad

“We drove from Jacksonville, North Carolina. I have my wife Susanna and my two children, Cataleya and Nigel. We are here to get Cataleya’s passport renewed and Nigel’s nationality, get that taken care of. The people here are doing an awesome job. I’ll tell you that much. Greatly appreciated by myself. I know that for sure.”

 

Anthony Staine, Belizean Living Abroad

“I wanted to let people know that this process has made things so much easier for Belizeans that are here in the United States that want to have dual citizenship and get their passport and being able to pass that on to their descendants. This process has been so much easier than trying to do in Belize itself and I’m so thankful.”

 

Eleanor Gallego, Belizean Living Abroad

“I had the British passport. The British Honduras passport. That’s before they change the name to Belize I guess. But then in 81 we got the Independence and that’s the year I left, The end of that year.  It was very convenient that you guys did this. I didn’t even know it was so easy.”

 

 

The cost to process first issue and renewal of passports at the diaspora clinic is two hundred and fifty US dollars and the cost to replace lost passports is three hundred US dollars. 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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