Dear Sir,

I noted your article “Hope for Bermudians on US stop list” with concern as there are a number of inaccuracies in the article (such as the lawyer’s reference to “loopholes” or her suggestion that there is a particular threshold of an amount of drugs that triggers being denied a waiver of ineligibility).

While it is generous of The Royal Gazette to give free front-page coverage to American law firms seeking clients in Bermuda, your readers need to know that they need not pay for legal advice to apply for waivers of ineligibility to travel to the United States.

If a person is ineligible to travel to the United States because of a criminal conviction, he or she may apply for a visa to the United States and speak with a consular officer at the US Consulate. During an interview, the consular officer will advise whether or not a waiver of the individual’s ineligibility can be sought.

Detailed information is available on our website at bm.usconsulate.gov/visas/niv-waivers-criminal-convictions-and-ineligibilities.

Many Bermudians, who earlier in their lives have been convicted of crimes, have successfully sought and received waivers and successfully travelled to the United States — without paying for legal services. And, unfortunately, paying for such legal services in no way guarantees a visa or a waiver of ineligibility to an applicant.

MARY ELLEN NOONAN KOENIG

US Consul-General