PHILIPSBURG–Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Monday wrote President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams regarding visa requirements for persons from the former Netherlands Antilles entering the USA.
The MP said several concerned citizens contacted her about the issue and it was brought to the attention of “the responsible minister” on April 14.
The US Homeland Security website https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements says “citizens of the new countries of Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten (the former Netherlands Antilles) are not eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme if they are applying for admission with passports from these countries.”
The MP said whether this is an error or an oversight by Homeland Security, despite the information that came from the official website of the US government clarification is needed as citizens of St. Maarten visit American territory regularly.
The MP said she has taken note of articles written on possible requirements for
US citizens wanting to visit Europe. “If approved, this would indeed affect
St. Maarten.”
She posed several questions to Minister of General Affairs William Marlin on the issue. She asked Marlin whether contact had been made with the US Embassy in Curaçao to bring clarity to the matter; whether the minister will inform the public on the results; whether there will be repercussions for St. Maarten if the EU places a visa requirement on US citizens and whether Marlin will address these issues with the Kingdom.
Source: Daily Herald Leona says clarity needed on US visa requirements
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