BMU Code To Be Added Back In Passports
The UK Government has confirmed that “work will shortly commence to return the Bermuda specific BMU code to Bermudian British Overseas Territory Citizen passports in 2024.”
A spokesperson said, “This follows the establishment last year of a UK/Bermuda Working Group and successful discussions with a range of stakeholders in that forum.
“Further information will be published in due course, but in the meantime, anyone applying to renew a Bermudian passport should continue to follow the guidance at https://www.gov.bm/department/immigration and should be aware that passports will continue to be issued with the GBR Code until 2024.”
Lord Goldsmith, the UK’s Minister for Overseas Territories, said “Premier Burt raised the important issue of the reinstatement of the BMU code with me shortly after I took on responsibility for the Overseas Territories, and I recognise how important this is for Bermudians. I am extremely pleased that a resolution is now agreed”.
The Governor said “We have worked closely with Government of Bermuda representatives and various UK Government Departments to reach this point. I know that news of the reinstatement of the passport code will be welcomed by Bermudians and I look forward to seeing the fruits of our hard work in 2024”.
It took a while but thank you to the perseverance of the Burt administration to continue advocating for this.
The trivial, inconsequential stuff that interests people of your ilk never ceases to amaze.
Inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, yes. But not when airlines and other officials stop you from boarding, and airline officials are nervous to change the code in their system to BMU, to no fault of their own. A very frustrating experience when your travels are disrupted.
Perhaps you haven’t travelled on a passport with the GBR code or simply got lucky to not experience the issues many have. It’s hardly a trivial matter to those that have.
It simply doesn’t matter.
Well, there is a bit of good news. I will take that, thank you.
Well yeah, after 25 years of utter failure, a fart in a spacesuit smells nice
Why isn’t there an explanation for the people who have relatively new passports with the GBR code.
What’s going to happen to them ? Will DoI call them in and have them re-coded ?
No. Why would you think that?
You can always apply for a replacement though.
Picture it .. you’ve got a new passport 9 months old .
And you wonder why I would think that ?
Actually what I really wonder about is you.
I applied to renew my Bermuda passport more than 9 months ago. No news yet.
As for the rest, I do not engage in gratuitous criticism of the PLP Government or any Government.
I also do not see why the PLP Government should have to again explain that which is already known. As a result of corruption in the islands to our south, the British Government took over the printing of all BOTC and Crown Dependency passports. As a result of that action, the BMU designation on Bermuda passports was lost. Our Government worked quietly, behind the scenes, to have the BMU designation restored so that we could travel to the U.S. without the need for an ESTA or I-94 visa waiver.
If your passport has been renewed without the BMU designation and you want a Bermuda passport with the BMU designation, you can apply for a further replacement to obtain what you want. It is not necessary for the PLP Government to pander to you.
Your usual comprehension problem is showing again .
A whole lot of people (Bermudians) now have what is considered a ‘new passport’ less than 4 years old that has the old code in it. From this point on people of the same legal ‘nationality standing’ as the prior group will get passports with the BMU code.
Lets say a Bermudian family of 5 , 2 with the old code in their passports and 3 with the new code , are traveling together departing Bermuda for the US or maybe traveling from the UK to the US. Are they going to all be treated the same ? Why should 2 have to pay to get new passports when theirs are still valid for 6 more years ?
I’m not expecting this government , or any other , to as you put it ‘pander’ to me . I do however expect them to clarify the situation as it will come up . And I can assure you there’s many more asking the same question.
Please don’t bother trying to respond either as it’s obvious you can’t fathom what I’ve presented.