Premier Ewart Brown yesterday announced that a programme to help people on the US stop list obtain waivers is set to start soon.

In the House of Assembly Dr. Brown said the visa waiver programme aimed to eliminate the gap between “same age peers across racial lines”.

The new programme will be headed by the Premier’s race relations advisor Rolfe Commissiong.

The stop list prevents people with convictions from travelling to the US and last November the Government pledged in the Throne Speech to tackle the issue.

At the time they said they would to create a programme to encourage Bermudians to stay off the list and provide assistance to those who are on the list and need to obtain a visa in order to travel to the US.Yesterday, Dr. Brown said the visa process required applicants to meet strict criteria and was “onerous” and “required an attention to detail”.

Dr. Brown added: ”Reliable anecdotal evidence suggests that there are hundreds of Bermudians, predominantly black males, who are eligible for visa waivers but who never apply for a variety of reasons.” The Mincy report, a detailed look at young black males, said there was an aversion to forms and deficits in soft skills in this demographic.

An office will be set up and people on the stop list will be able to seek advice in person, via the phone or e-mail.

Government will also launch a public relations campaign to inform people about the programme and the eligibility requirements for a visa waiver.

Dr. Brown added: ”The programme is eagerly awaited by the people of Bermuda and I am proud, on behalf of the Government, to usher in its implementation.

”There is no reason that access to our nearest neighbour should be unduly denied our citizens and this Government is committed to promoting that access on their behalf.”

It is not known how many people are on the stop list however in 2007 former US Consulate Gregory Slayton said approximately 75 percent of people who apply for a waiver receive one.

According to the US Consulate’s website the US bars entry to all foreigners who have convictions.

There is currently no provision in US law to be taken off the stop list, not even a certificate of rehabilitation. However, those with convictions can apply for a waiver from the Department of Homeland Security through the US Consulate.

In order to be eligible a person must:

● Complete a Bermuda Police Certificate Request Form.

● Present a Police certificate from any other jurisdiction in which they have resided in for more than six months in the past ten years. If the offence occurred outside Bermuda, the applicant is required to obtain the Police certificate from that jurisdiction.

They must also fulfil the same requirements necessary for people applying for a regular visa. These include having valid passport with six months remaining before expiration and a passport photo. They must also fill out a new online DS-160- Non-Immigrant Visa Application, have proof of Bermudian status and have $131 in US or Bermudian cash. They must also be interviewed.