The Government of Bermuda tabled in the House today a Bill which
would amend the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956 to
address certain issues facing 'mixed-status' families,
where family members of persons who possess Bermudian status or a
permanent residency certificate (PRC) are unable
to remain in Bermuda because they cannot acquire either Bermudian
status or PRC.
This is the beginning of the legislative process. After readings
in the House, the Bill will need to progress through multiple
readings in the Senate before Royal Assent is given and a
commencement date set. The key features of the Bill are summarised
below.
The Bill makes provision for a Commonwealth citizen who is born
outside Bermuda to acquire Bermudian status at the time of birth if
at that time, although neither parent is domiciled in Bermuda, at
least one parent possesses Bermudian status. Currently, such
persons do not acquire Bermudian status at birth but are deemed to
possess status
