USVI vs St Lucia

One difference is that a US citizen would not be allowed to work on St. Lucia.

One difference is that a US citizen would not be allowed to work on St. Lucia.

Right. But what if I take my US-based job with me to St Lucia? I work remotely from home, and all I need is my computer. That would be perfectly legal, right?

But what if I take my US-based job with me to St Lucia? I work remotely from home, and all I need is my computer. That would be perfectly legal, right?

Not a given. You'll find a lot of information here:

http://www.govt.lc/news/about/immigration

But what if I take my US-based job with me to St Lucia? I work remotely from home, and all I need is my computer. That would be perfectly legal, right?

Almost never. Most countries highly regulate the ability of foreigners to live and/or work there legally, even if you bring remote work with you. There are often many types of visas, such as tourist, student, resident, worker, retiree, etc.

My quick read-through of the St. Lucia government pages tells me that you can only get a three month Visa at a time, and the only way to become a citizen is by birth or marriage.

Can you buy citizenship on St. Lucia like you can on St. Kitts and others?

Can you buy citizenship on St. Lucia like you can on St. Kitts and others?

Interesting concept. I didn't know such a practice existed.

Can you buy citizenship on St. Lucia like you can on St. Kitts and others?

It's not as simple as it sounds. I don't know if St Lucia offers it but St Kitts and Nevis have a path to citizenship through investment (as does the US and many countries throughout the world):

http://www.isla-offshore.com/services/citizenship-st-kitts-nevis/

I've checked before.

There are a number of Caribbean countries where you can obtain what they call economic citizenship by buying real estate, investing in a business or something similar.

St Kitts and Nevis allows that for buying real estate of a certain value. Others actually sell citizenship, for a price.

So you'd have to deal with the typical "gotta leave every few months" game to be able to stay there long term. To obtain citizenship is very difficult if not impossible (assuming you are American and married to an American).

Others actually sell citizenship, for a price.

And they are ... ? Investment can lead to citizenship in many countries but I'd be curious to know of any country which actually offers citizenship for plain hard cash.

A simple google search yields the answer - don't be so quick to naysay others!!

They are:
St Kitts & Nevis
Dominica
Antigua and Barbuda (acc to article below this is pending BUT I actually remember reading about this in the Avis or DN recently that they are now offering citizenship for cash)

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/28/business/world-overlooked-countries-second-citizenship/

A simple google search yields the answer - don't be so quick to naysay others!!

They are:
St Kitts & Nevis
Dominica
Antigua and Barbuda (acc to article below this is pending BUT I actually remember reading about this in the Avis or DN recently that they are now offering citizenship for cash)

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/28/business/world-overlooked-countries-second-citizenship/

Right off the bat, the citizenship offered by St Kitts and Nevis is based on investment. I'm not "naysaying" anybody, just asking a simple question.

Hi Tart! I'm pretty sure the island of Dominica offers citizenship for cash. I looked it up a few years ago. Things could have changed since I looked though.

In the article they call it "cash for citizenship"
Investment = cash....they are one in the same.

St. Lucia is a beautiful country, but it's nothing like a US territory.
Cost of living is ONLY less expensive if you live like a local...any American habits will be expensive.
Crime is a growing concern, typically limited to the city (Castries) but not nearly as bad as the USVI.
Its NOT easy to live and work there...even when married to a national.
And they are not like the US, they enforce their laws on that island.
Similarities would be the visual appearance of a mountainous island, the differences are too may to list.
I would be happy to answer any direct questions.

Hi Tart! I'm pretty sure the island of Dominica offers citizenship for cash. I looked it up a few years ago. Things could have changed since I looked though.

Yes, it does indeed. $100,000 plus according to this:

http://www.safehavenoffshore.com/citizenship.cfm

Sounds lovely doesn't it?

In the article they call it "cash for citizenship"
Investment = cash....they are one in the same.

I linked earlier the St Kitts/Nevis website which provides all the official information on the citizenship-investment program if you're interested in reading it.

One other difference is that it is even farther away from the US, and one of the big complaints that many have and some actually leave the USVI is that it is so hard and costly to travel back and forth to see family.
Crime??? Does St Lucia actually report all the crime that goes on like they report it in the USVI?
My daughter worked there several years ago at the Club Med ( I believe Club Med handled the work permit thing ) and left after only two month os the six month tour because of all the crime. She transfered to another Club Med. She worked in the clubs all over the world for 7 years (14 seasons) and St Lucia was the only one she couldn't handle.