Belizeans travel from across the United States to Evanston, Chicago, for immigration services at Diaspora Hub

By Hugh O’Brien: Belizeans from across the Chicago area and the larger United States, including Texas, Washington and Colorado, travelled to Evanston this weekend to access passport and nationality services being offerred directly to the diaspora by Belize’s Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour.

The Diaspora Mobile Hub, being held from August 7 to 9, is providing Belizeans living in the United States with an opportunity to complete nationality and passport applications without having to travel to Belize or wait for an appointment at a designated Belizean diplomatic or consular mission.

While many of those attending came from Evanston, Chicago and surrounding communities, others travelled hundreds or even thousands of miles to take advantage of the outreach initiative. Several Belizeans from the Dallas area made the journey to Evanston to submit applications and complete other documentation processes.

In a public statement posted on its Facebook page, the Ministry said “Some visitors came to renew their Belizean passports, while others submitted first-time passport applications. Families also visited the hub to apply for Belizean nationality by descent, allowing eligible children and other descendants born outside Belize to formally establish their Belizean nationality.”

The Ministry said that these services are being provided through the Nationality and Passports Department as part of the Ministry’s broader effort to bring essential government services closer to Belizeans living abroad.

“For members of the diaspora, having services available in a U.S. city can significantly reduce the time, cost and logistical challenges associated with completing important documentation. Belizean passport applicants are required to appear in person at an Immigration Office in Belize or at a designated Belizean diplomatic or consular mission.”

For this reason, according to the Ministry, Evanston became a destination this weekend not only for Belizeans living in Illinois, but also for members of the diaspora who travelled from across the United States.

“For some families, the visit was simply about renewing a passport and maintaining the ability to travel using Belizean documentation. For others, particularly parents seeking nationality by descent for their children, the process represented another way of passing their connection to Belize from one generation to the next,” said the Ministry.

Belize’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Nestor E. Mendez, attended the Ministry’s immigration outreach alongside Belize’s Ambassador for Diaspora Relations, Sandhya Murphy.

Belizean nationality by descent is available to qualifying persons born outside Belize based on Belizean parentage.

The Evanston Diaspora Mobile Hub continues will conclude on Sunday, August 9.

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