Venezuelans begin re-registering to extend stay

Venezuelans registered under Government's amnesty programme in June 2019 have begun dropping off their documents to the Immigration Division to update their status.

At 7 am, a small group of Venezuelans was waiting in front of the Immigration office on Henry Street, Port of Spain. Under the eyes of police and immigration officials, they filed in one by one to drop off their documents in a brown box at the entrance.

National Security Minister Stuart Young announced last week that Venezuelan migrants would be re-registered from March 8-26. Information on the process has been posted on the ministry's website. The documents can be dropped off at Immigration offices on Henry Street; Knox Street, San Fernando and the Agricola Building in Tobago.

Pedro Velásquez, who has been in Trinidad and Tobago for three and a half years, said: “It is important to be able to be legally secure and thus work comfortably. With the registration card I was able to travel to Venezuela in December 2019 after two years without seeing my family, I was able to open my bank account and establish myself in my work. In addition, legality guarantees a better deal."

Velásquez was one of the first Venezuelans to deposit his documents for the update.

"I can't wait for the (registration period) to pass. It's better to deliver the documents early and then wait for them to call us. We have to ensure our legal status," he said.

Marisela Romo told Newsday, "It is a good decision for the Government to update our data. The cards delivered between 2019 and 2020 are already expired. Many of us have even changed addresses and jobs since then."

Romo believes re-registration will be a way to regularise her legal status.

She added that many registered Venezuelans reported being fired or even evicted from their apartments when their original registration expired.

"This was unfair, since Venezuelans are at the behest of the government when it comes to having their status re-regularised."

However, Young had said during a radio interview that employers concerned about hiring Venezuelan workers can rest assured that registered Venezuelans can work in TT, even if the original registration period had expired.