US Ambassador recommends physical visits and fingerprinting for people seeking passports under CBI

​In an interview with Ken Richards of WINN FM Radio, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Linda S Taglialatela, recommends physical visits and fingerprinting, for people who are seeking passports under the existing Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs in the region. She is of the opinion that all recipients should be brought in to be fingerprinted, before receiving passports
 
The US Ambassador said “One of the things; and I know why some of the countries are reluctant; I would prefer that each country requires the individual to come to the country to be fingerprinted and have their fingerprints on files for passport purposes and other things. I would feel more comfortable, because then you know who you are dealing with, and if you have biometric data on the individuals, then you can perform additional checks and balances on other people, to see exactly where they stand.”
 
She stated that it would “be nice if they can set a standard across the five countries that have programs, and attempt to rationalize their programs a little bit more. I honestly believe that if you are going to have an effective program, you have to bring the individual here; there should be some kind of residency requirement whether you come once a year to the island, particularly if you going to need to re-validate your passport…”
 
She said in addition, if biometric data on passports are done in the country, and individuals meet Immigration authorities and go through a final interview before receiving passports, then it will be “much more sound.” She stressed on the imperative for due diligence in the program. “I think you have to do the due diligence, you have to make sure who you are talking to; you have to know what their intent is; why they want a second passport, and what is it they are going to contribute to the country, when they become a citizen of that country”.
 
Taglialatela stated that the issuance of diplomatic passports is of concern to the US. “The problem is again there needs to be a process by which these individuals are vetted, by which these individuals are then approved by a group of people, whether it is your parliament, or a special panel set up by the Prime Minister; but there needs to be something that is transparent and regularized, so that people just don’t get diplomatic passports”