why is anyone living on stt?

Great post limetime2. I think there has definitely been a shift in attitude regarding St. Thomas versus St. Croix. As we were preparing to move from STT to STX , most people were telling us how clever we were, and we have several friends on STT considering making the move. We know some who already have. In our case it was mostly tied into real estate prices. You just get more for your money on STX. That's probably the largest consideration for a lot of people who choose STX, particularly retirees.
And to crazy4now, I don't see the posts on the forum as all negative. On occasion, we get on a topic that people have serious opinions about, but for the most part we all have something good to say about St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, and don't forget Water Island! So, welcome! Come on down and check it out.

Sabrina the BVI are a Dependent state just like the USVI. A british crown colony or overseas territory is govern directly by a Governor General appointed by the Queen he or she could exercise its powers according to the constitution. The Local Government governs but it has no sovereignity for examples the BVI created offshore banking but all banking are Supervised by the Bank Of England. All immigrations matters and customs are handle locally but they answer to UK laws and regulations. Also the local government has the power to control matters of business and currency like the BVI they opted to adopt the U.S dollar unlike Caymans and Bermuda they have their own currency attach to the dollar to. This is done for commerce purposes but any matter with international rep is done directly by the UK. Also BVI are citizens and subjects of the British crown therefore are consider British and can easily move to the UK and work. The UK has different types of citizenship but in accordance to law all citizens and Subjects of the British crown including british overseas colonies and territories are therefore consider citizens of the United Kingdom. In reality the UK tries to portrait the image that there colonies are free and they are autonomous to an extend specially so they don't have to give them allot of entitlements $$$ like the U.S does with the USVI and other territories. But the reality is that the Governor general is in Charge of all national security matters police, borders, customs his decisions are over any prime minister or premier the BVI. The governor general has the power to dismiss in the name of the UK government and Queen any Prime Minister of any dependent territory. Out of all the powers the only country that provides its overseas territories with all right and obligations is France. All of Frances Islands in the Caribbean are French Oversea depts they are 100% France they pay taxes to France and they vote for the President of France and their dept. have Rep in their National Assembly they are just like any other State of the U.S. For the same reasons France 's departments like Guadalupe , Martinique which are the main ones that also Include St Martin( french section) and St Barths this two last territories belong to Commune the Guadalupe ( department of Guadalupe) the same goes for Guayana and other territories the got the Full rights and responsibilities. The USVI government has made no effort to incorporate more with the U.S like a state or so their population is not too much also the Freeport status and tax breaks virgin islanders get are condition of territorial status. As per Puerto rico is more Autonomous than the USVI it has a different constitution and laws neverthless they are still under US as a Dependent state but this is conflicting the OEA says Puerto rico is a free associated state and the UN says is a dependent state neverthless the problems of Puerto rico are too big and my since is that Puerto rico Sooner or later will become more independent and never a State like some people hope. The cultural differences between Puerto rico and the US are dismal.

Trade, please don't think I was bashing STT. Yes, I am a cheerleader for STX. I have had people ask me from St. John and STT aren't I terrified to live on STX because of the crime. I love all the VIs except I have never been to Water Island. STX just suits me better because I can have a big lot of land at a cheaper price.

Rokipatel,

Please break up your postings into sentences and paragraphs. My old eyes have great difficulty reading such a dense block of text.

OK, rokipatel, maybe that is why those islands are so peaceful and doing so well! My point was that there are no longer any "colonies", only "protectorates". Someone from the U.K. has no rights to living or working in these protectorates without a permit, unlike a US citizen in the USVI. The way that France and the Netherlands govern their territories is also different. If I go to Martinique, they don't even stamp my passport because I am a citizen of an E.E.C. country, and I can stay as long as I want. However, if I go to a former British Colony I will be given a limited visa (stamp in my passport), usually for 30 days, that states that I must not engage in gainful employment.

Yes a British citizens does have the right to residency and work with no permits in the BVI, Cayman, Bermuda and they are not protectorates they are dependent territories in other words when you are in the BVI you are in the UK. In regards to Bermuda there are some Jobs reserves for locals.

If you go to any French department like Guadalupe( st Martin, St Barths) Martinique and you are a EU citizens belonging to the Shengen pact you don't get you passport stamp. The UK although is a member of the EU did not Sign all the articles of Shenghen pact so allot of times and within europe when you travel from Spain to the UK your passport is stamp is mostly a formality within the Eurozone but the UK keeps a tight lip on immigration do that London is airport of entry to Europe. When you live the USVI to the mainland US you must go thru customs and immigration and show proof of citizenship you really don't need a passport but you need to proof that you are legal resident of the U.S St thomas is a port of entry too.

Another thing when you go to the BVI, Cayman, Bermuda, Anguilla brittish oversea territories and crown colonies, You technically get a 30 day pass but you can actually stay in the territory 180 days as long as you are not working. All you have to do is go to the Immigration office and pay 25 dollars( In the case cayman islands )and tell them you wish to stay longer for any reason you want. Allot of those local laws are done to protect local jobs including EU members states in which UK is part of. Even if you move within the Eurozone like moving to Spain from the UK you could stay for as long as you want and you have the right to work anywhere in the Eurozone but you must obtain a work permit and local residency to do so. There are allot of local laws believe me i have family in Spain i know.

crazy: There is a very old tradition of trying to get people to really look at moving here before they do. It is not because we don't like it, but because it is so very, very different. It is this upside down world of behavior and actions that really baffle many newcomers (and old timers, too!)

Rule #1: Come look for yourself (you said you were going to, good!)
Rule #2: Give yourself at least six months to learn the ropes.
Rule #3: Don't burn your bridges back home. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out.

And to everyone else: One of the reason I have always liked this board is that there are Crucians, St Thomians, St Johnians and Water Islanders involved. I live on St Thomas, but when I read about the Hiking Association or the organic farm, I am really jealous of you all over in Twin City. We are 4 islands but we are all one... regardless of what some of our fearless leaders think! 🙂

Very wise east ender

Very simply, my wife and I transplanted from Massachusetts and live on STT. We love it here and think it is a great place to live. We have good jobs, a roof over our heads and eat 3 squares a day. I work on all 3 USVI islands, yes that's right, all 3. Other than the cost of a few sundry items being different from island to island, most things are pretty equal, including the people and thier love of the islands. You have to experience this lifestyle for yourself.

"Jules and Rokipatel, you seem to be implying that the only ones on this board saying bad things about the VI are from STX and therefore the negative comments only apply to STX????"

stxem, I think you put words in my mouth. I merely pointed out that the more active posters seem to live on St. Croix. They seem to be happy on STX. I am happy for them. This is only my observation.

I said nothing about the content of their posting or the content of other's posting. I did not say nor do I feel that this board's Crucians look down on STT nor vice vera.

My statement was meant only to convey that there seems to be fewer STT residents posting, therefore fewer positive posts about STT.

I was not implying anything else.

Addendum to my post immediately above this:

I see what happened. As I was typing my reply to the ORIGINAL post, another post intervened. Some may have interpreted my post as a response to the post just above it rather than a response to the original post 🙂

I must say that I am surprised at such passionate postings. However it tells me more then I could have asked for. You all love where you live to the point of being very protective of it, just as if you were born and raised there.

That is the most positive thing said, just in many different ways.

Thank you all for the time you took to share your self and show your pride in the USVI.

I am excited and nervous about the adventure, but I think you all have had that feeling at some point, and understand.

See you soon!

PS. I know why everyone is living in STT, STX , STJ and Water Island............they are all happy with life.

Trade,my sisters mother is an office manager for one of the downtown galleries over there and she lives in a house overlooking hull bay and some brass island things,she says she's never been happier in her life,she claims she'll never go back to the upper midwest because of the midwest mindset,it's been close to 2 years for her so i think she's found her fit.

Roki
Thank you for your comments. I think you might be mistaken when you state that British Citizens have full citizenship rights in the BVI. I understand that they cannot become "Belongers" for many years and possibly never. I have friends who have been in business for decades who still cannot fully own property and have full citzenship..check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_British_Virgin_Islands

I got this info from the UK Immigration office and also from the Ministry of of State websites in relation with British crown colonies and oversea territories. yo are right they are many restriction for a UK resident to won and to work in certain areas of those islands but those restrictions are local to protect jobs and agricultural land. Any Birtish citizens who resides in the BVI for a period of over 5 years is consider a full fletch resident of the BVI and citizen no local restriction. For example in Bermuda they have the most absurd laws tourist are not allow to rent cars only hire a tax or a local driver to transport them around the island. Except form tourist that come from the UK they do have the right to drive in Bermuda from the first day they land.

Well one thing for sure, I live here because I love it and I am now at 26yrs., more than half my life! I would not trade it for the world!

As for this forum, I have ck'd out and registered with other forums, but this one is where it is at!!!! I participate far more on the tourist forum as I love to be helpful in any way that I can, but sneak over here and ck in now and again. What I love about vi now is that the participants are more diverse here! You see not only posts about STJ, but STT AND STX!!!!!! That is why I am here (on vi now) and that is why I will stay!!!!!

Go to the site that MS Informations gives.
It says that Non-Belongers have very limited rights and it takes many many years to become a belonger. They only allow 25 people a year t become a belonger.

Thanks Ms Information and terry. I had given up on this subject already as apparently rokipatel knows everything about immigration laws in the Caribbean and Europe! I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but I have lived and worked in both a former colony (there are no longer any colonies, only overseas territories or protectorates), and a protectorate. In both cases I was required to have a work permit, and my co-workers who had moved with their spouses were required to have a residence permit for them. I realise every island has slightly different laws and different ways of enforcing them. As for the stuff about Europe, that is where I'm from, so I really don't need a lecture on immigration laws there.
Sorry to all the people who are reading this thread because they want to find out about STT!

As a Construction and Business developer i make it my business to know everything about Immigration and permits climate everywhere i do business, This info is available to anyone just go to the websites and read also i talk from experienced i lived in Grand Cayman for 3 1/2 months while my company was developing a shopping center in that island i really got very familiar with UK and its relation to his colonies. But in regards to residents/ Natives and Belongers which ever way you call it you are right about that UK residents are not allow to get certain jobs, certain amount of land anything regarding agriculture and Jobs to native but if they show continuance residence for 5 years as per specified by British law they become full residents. But still UK residents are allow to participate in more sectors of the Economy and Politics as per another nationality for example americans. In regards to Americans the National government is the same for all citizens that live under the flag regarding Immigration matters. In regards to local economic and Political matters in the Case of Puerto rico which is consider to be a commonwealth of the U.S as an incorporated territory of the U.S in which all the citizens of that island are born U.S citizens there are certain laws and provisions impeding Mainlanders in occupying government jobs obtaining land for development and agricultural issues. For example the Government of Puerto Rico is 100% fiscally independent in regards to taxes and commerce laws( Only the Banking is Supervise by the FED) But U.S banks in Puerto rico also deal with the Banking Association a regulatory arm of the Puerto rico Government. The Puerto rico Situation is still a constitutional debate because Puerto rico has many freedoms under the Constitution of the Commonwealth depending of the Government we have are either apply or not. In Puerto rico we have an Independence party ( Minority) a Commonwealth Party ( Majority so far) An a Pro Statehood Party> ( Very Big) which ever wins the elections uses does powers. As per Europe where you are from you could lived anywhere in the Shenghen pact country Eurozone area but you must apply for a work permit and if the country is a participant of the pact THEY MUST GIVE IT TO YOU.

Just take everything you read on this board with a grain of salt - I've lived on STT for a few years now and love it - but I find this board has a negative feel overall - lots of people like to complain and pick fights with each other (everyone is an expert you know!) - Seriously though - you need to be here for yourself - I almost tell people to stay off this board if they are thinking of moving here because it will put a bad taste in your mouth before you even land

LOL, you are so right about that. This thread did turn alittle funny from the original question. I am curious about the cost of food. What would it run for say a gallon of milk, loaf of bread and some butter?

I did not notice this was you also. Are we going for the same position?

was, I am only helping out now. I can't leave my daughter with all of our family in Michigan.