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Visa requirements to Turks and Caicos or "How accurate is Timatic?"

Visa requirements to Turks and Caicos or "How accurate is Timatic?"

Old Aug 8, 2010, 8:57 am
  #1  
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Visa requirements to Turks and Caicos or "How accurate is Timatic?"

Hello, fellow flyers. The topic of this thread can be simplified to "How much do you trust Timatic?" question. There are two citizens of Latvia intending to visit Turks and Caicos soon (purpose of visit is tourism and length of stay is about a week) , and as much as I traveled before, this is about the first time when I'm getting so much contradictory information about visa/entry requirements to a particular country.

The only decent official T&C website that I found is http://www.immigrationboard.tc/go/en...nts--page.html, which doesn't list Latvia as a country whose nationals do not require a visa to enter T&C. Most of other non-official websites (like http://www.worldtravelguide.net/coun...s-Islands.html) say that all citizens of EU countries do not require a visa, and so does Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_re...tvian_citizens) stating that visits up to 30 days do not require a visa, proving this point with a link to Timatic (http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/ti...subuser=KLMB2C).
It was only logical that I decided to call Turks and Caicos Immigration department and talk to them. I called them twice on different days and talked to different officers - one of them confirmed that we don't need visas and another one told that we would need T&C visas unless we have United States visas (everyone possessing US visas can visit T&C), which we DO have, so it's kind of a positive answer too, but it's still confusing how two officers told two different things. Now, I understand that Latvia is a small country most people don't know about, but I would expect immigration officers to know their own rules quite well.

So in one corner of the ring is:
- immigration officer stating that we don't need visas as such
- Timatic
- Wikipedia and most unofficial websites
In the opposite corner is
- another immigration officer stating that we would need visas unless we have US visas
- immigrationboard.tc website (which may be outdated)

Which of the sides would you trust if you were me? And what would you do to make sure you don't get refused entry (apart from getting some decent country's citizenship ) ?
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Old Aug 8, 2010, 9:24 am
  #2  
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kettu77, welcome to FlyerTalk. Let me move this to our Travel->Caribbean forum for further discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
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Old Aug 8, 2010, 4:02 pm
  #3  
KVS
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Originally Posted by kettu77
The only decent official T&C website that I found is http://www.immigrationboard.tc/go/en...nts--page.html, which doesn't list Latvia as a country whose nationals do not require a visa to enter T&C.
"Copyright 2007. Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Board - All right reserved."

Originally Posted by kettu77
Now, I understand that Latvia is a small country most people don't know about, but I would expect immigration officers to know their own rules quite well.
Will this be your first visit to the Carribean region?

You would be reasonably safe to go with the TIMATIC data:

[KVS Availability Tool 5.7.4/Diamond - TIMATIC: Country Information: Visa]
Code:
08AUG10 / 2249 UTC
 Turks and Caicos Isl. (TC)

Visa required.

 Visa Exemptions:
- Nationals of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
- A stay of max. 30 days:
 - for holders of British passports (irrespective of
   endorsement in their passport regarding their national
   status);
 - for nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
   Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
   Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
   Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo (Kinshasa), Costa Rica, Cote
   d'Ivoire, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Rep., Denmark, Dominica,
   Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany,
   Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
   India, Ireland (Rep. of), Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,
   Kiribati, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho,
   Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia,
   Maldive Isl., Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia,
   Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
   Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
   Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romaina,
   Russian Fed., Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
   Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Rep., Slovenia,
   Solomon Isl., South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St.
   Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines,
   Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
   Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
   Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, USA, Uruguay,
   Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen (Rep.),
   Zambia or Zimbabwe;
 - for holders of Chinese Taipei passports; 
 - for holders of a Residence Permit issued by Canada, United
   Kingdom or the USA;
 - for holders of a Hong Kong (SAR China) passports.
 - holders of a visa for Canada, United Kingdom or the USA. 
- Alien residents of the Turks & Caicos Isl. if holding a
  Residence Permit. 

 TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
- Those continuing their journey to a third country within 24
  hours by the same or first connecting aircraft. Leaving the
  airport transit area is not allowed. 

 Merchant Seamen:
- Visa is not required when holding a Seaman Book. 
- Merchant Seamen arriving by air in order to board a ship, or
  if arriving by ship in order to board an aircraft must
  travel on duty and hold a Letter of Guarantee from the
  shipping company.
- The Immigration Department prefers prior notification of all
  Merchant Seamen entering the Turks & Caicos Isl.

 Crew Members:
- Same regulations as for passengers apply.

 Military:
- Visa not required for US military personnel traveling on
  duty provided holding Military Identity Card, driver's
  licence and movement orders. 

 Visa Issuance:
- Prior to arrival: please contact the nearest representation
  of the United Kingdom (Great Britain).

 Additional Information:
- Visa exemption is for a max. stay of 30 days. Extension of
  stay up to 90 days is possible if applied for at least 3
  days before the end of the 30 days. Fee USD 50.-.
- Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents
  required for their next destination and sufficient funds to
  cover their stay.

 Warning:
- Admission will be refused if not complying with the entry
  regulations. 

CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - ITALY: MINORS
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Old Aug 8, 2010, 6:59 pm
  #4  
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Originally Posted by KVS
Will this be your first visit to the Carribean region?

You would be reasonably safe to go with the TIMATIC data:
Great piece of information, thank you very much! This makes me feel much safer! I knew immigrationboard.tc could be outdated as even British Embassy website says Turks and Caicos doesn't have an official website.

Yes, this will be our first visit to the Carribbean. We're really looking forward to visiting and to seeing how it compares to our favourite place so far - the Maldives. I'm sure it will be different, but it should definitely be amazing.
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Old Aug 9, 2010, 7:09 am
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Go with Timatic: and in addition, airline checkin agents refer to Timatic before checking in passengers. To do otherwise would put you in danger of being sent back.
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Old Jan 28, 2012, 2:31 pm
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I trust it quite a bit as it has been accurate every time I have used it.
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Old Feb 17, 2012, 7:57 pm
  #7  
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After a year and a half, the OP has either made it or been sent packing home.

Originally Posted by AA_EXP09
I trust it quite a bit as it has been accurate every time I have used it.
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Old May 13, 2014, 1:20 pm
  #8  
 
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I need help

Hello
Good evening, Am Josephine from Nigeria, I got a Tourism visa of Turks and Caicos that is valid for 90 days, but i was so busy since to make the journey. Now the visa is about to expired and I need an extension on the visa. Please is this possible and what are the requirement for the extension. If anybody nos anything about it please I need u̶̲̥̅̊r reply very urgent.Thank u̶̲̥̅̊.

Last edited by Prospero; May 13, 2014 at 2:08 pm Reason: Remove personal details (email address)
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Old May 28, 2014, 7:59 pm
  #9  
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Originally Posted by bigjoeinter
Hello
Good evening, Am Josephine from Nigeria, I got a Tourism visa of Turks and Caicos that is valid for 90 days, but i was so busy since to make the journey. Now the visa is about to expired and I need an extension on the visa. Please is this possible and what are the requirement for the extension. If anybody nos anything about it please I need u̶̲̥̅̊r reply very urgent.Thank u̶̲̥̅̊.
Please visit this page (United Airlines offering TimaticWeb) and fill in the details. It will tell you what you need to know, and is what the airlines use to determine whether you will be able to board and fly or not (including extensions, but you may also want to contact Turks and Caicos consular services to be sure).

According to the Turks and Caicos visitor site, passport holders from Nigeria do not need a visa (Nigeria is listed as a visa-exempt nation); they must provide evidence of further travel, and remain no longer than ninety (90) days. Immigration authorities may always ask for proof of sufficient funds for the duration of admission; valid credit cards will generally suffice.

By the way, visa extensions are usually only for granted visas when someone is visiting a country, not for the date of arrival.
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