The Department of Immigration?s special Saturday opening arrangements that have been running for the past three weeks will not be available today.

Unavailability of staff means the office will not be able to open and anyone who had been hoping to take advantage of the weekend arrangements to have their passport stamped to indicate their Bermudian status before new travel regulations for visitors to the US come into effect on January 8 is asked to return next week during regular work hours.

?We apologise for any inconvenience but due to an unavailability of staff we will not be able to run the operation this Saturday,? said Craig Tyrrell, personal services manager for Immigration last night.

He said the office will open as normal next week for those who need to have their passport stamped to reflect their Bermudian status or show they are a registered Bermudian and therefore continue to be eligible to travel to the US without a visa once the altered travel rules take effect in the new year.