Bill Overview
Title: Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a visa waiver program for nationals of certain countries to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifically, the bill expands an existing program that authorizes visa waivers for nationals of certain countries to enter Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands to also authorize waivers for entry to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under this program, DHS may provide a waiver admitting a nonimmigrant visitor for up to 45 days if the waiver does not represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories or commonwealths.
Sponsors: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: Nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands from countries eligible for visa waiver
Estimated Size: 100000
- The bill potentially affects nonimmigrant visitors from countries that would become eligible for the visa waiver program for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands are a small group of islands with a population of around 100,000, hence the local population could also be impacted by increased tourism and visitors.
- The existing visa waiver program includes certain countries; thus, nationals of these countries could see expanded travel opportunities.
- The Department of Homeland Security will administrate the program, so its staff and resources might also be impacted.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily affect tourism and travel between certain countries and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which might lead to economic growth through increased spending but also could raise security and administrative challenges for DHS.
- Directly impacted individuals are nonimmigrant visitors who would manage travel plans with greater ease, potentially improving their overall travel happiness.
- Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands might experience both positive economic impacts due to increased tourism and potential nuisances due to overcrowding at popular sites.
- U.S. residents involved in travel and hospitality industries will be indirectly impacted through changes in regional demand influenced by increased movement of visitors to the Virgin Islands.
- Considering a visa waiver program historically might lead to increased visitors, we're simulating how this might affect various broad demographic clusters within and outside the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Within the constraint, the program will need to balance between economic growth and funding for safety measures.
- U.S. domestic staff and the governmental bureaucracy may adjust to new policies requiring new program management strategies, but changes could be minor on an individual working level.
Simulated Interviews
Hotel manager (Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am hopeful that the visa waiver program will boost tourism and improve the local economy.
- More visitors mean more business, but I worry about local resources being overwhelmed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Travel agency owner (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With the visa waiver expansion to the Virgin Islands, we expect an uptick in bookings first to explore meeting people who're curious to see new locations.
- We might need to adjust our marketing strategies but the prospect is financially appealing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a positive step towards opening international interactions and potentially improving the job market in tourism.
- Such a policy could be studied in tourism development courses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
DHS analyst (New York City, New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Another visa waiver program brings additional workload, which can be manageable but requires more resources for proper implementation.
- It's a good initiative but we must ensure robust security measures remain our priority.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local artisan (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope to see more tourists who appreciate our craft as it might boost sales.
- More visitors should be good for local businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare worker (Miami, Florida)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am concerned about increased health risks associated with more visitors, especially in tropical areas.
- However, our infrastructure is supposed to be adaptable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy expert on immigration (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a sensible move to expand the visa waiver program where it makes sense, like the Virgin Islands with its economy largely based on tourism.
- One must ensure stringent measures to capture and limit misuse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small business owner in travel accessories (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 41 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may indirectly boost my business as more travel options can enhance consumer interest in travel gear.
- As with most businesses in travel, my success depends in part on policies like these.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
International relations graduate student (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These types of policies are intriguing as they affect international relations and partnerships.
- Studying these changes can help in understanding broader geopolitical strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
DHS administrative manager (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy implementation means more work for my team but also strategically benefits U.S. interests in invigorating local economies through tourism.
- Our priority will be on keeping processes smooth for travelers while ensuring resource efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3500000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3500000)
Year 5: $1300000 (Low: $900000, High: $3200000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- Impact of increased tourism on local infrastructure and services, requiring potential upgrades or expansions.
- Security implications and the need for stringent checks to prevent misuse of the visa waiver program.
- Coordination with existing tourism stakeholders and local government to maximize economic benefits.