Nigerian travelling to Barbados

[onourway12 0]

Hello, My husband and I have been together for several years. We married in Nigeria about 6 months ago and for the last couple years I have been living with him abroad. We haven't started any visa processes yet, because quite frankly we don't know if we want to move to the states (i am american) or if we would continue living in his home country for a while longer. Anyhow, Im ready for a break from Nigeria and as you all know, the places a Nigerian citizen can travel are very limited. He can, however, go to Barbados without a visa but getting there seems to be our obstacle. i know this forum is for visa issues, but I tried posting this question elsewhere and got a lot of ridiculous answers from other nigerians who maybe dont have the means to travel and therefore felt maybe we shouldnt either. My husband has never been out of Nigeria or held a visitor visa for anywhere else. So going thru the UK or USA with a transit visa, might be hard to get. I know there are countries that dont require transit visa's and we have found a really really long route...going thru about 6 different countries just to get there. that is way to long and ridiculous...so im hoping we are overlooking something that someone else might know the answer to. thanks for any suggestions you can give!

[rodceasar 34]

Yes! See: http://www.barbados.org/docs_requirements.htm

FYI - information like this is readily available over the internet for every country!

[rodceasar 34]

"Nigerian citizens need a transit visa for almost everywhere. Even countries that normally allow air passengers to transit without a visa by staying in the "international" part of the airport do not allow Nigerians to do that".

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090909081552AAogRsX

[onourway12 0]

thanks for both those links but neither really tell me the info Im looking for.

[liveurlife 0]

Don't bother to go to Barbados if you live in Nigeria, they'll not let you into the island with that green passport alone, u'll be detained at the airport & bundled on the next available flight out of there.Even though Nigerians don't need a Visa into Barbados,u'll be detained like an illegal alien @ d airport.I just had an awful experience with my cousin who have travelled all over the world & came to visit me in the USA.He stayed longer,so instead of his I-94 to expire, i decided to send him to barbados 4 2weeks so he can reenter the US on a new I-94.I called and inquired from the Barbadian consulate about travelling to the island as a Nigerian & they told me it was ok, all you needed was a ticket,your unexpired passport & a hotel reservation for the time duration.All that i did, only for him to be detained & bundled back same day to the US on the next available flight,he was scared but i told him to relax & that when he gets to the MIAport,he should just tell the Immigration officer that he went to Barbados for Vacation but they did not let him enter b/c he was a nigerian & that he wanted to return to Nigeria from here but his cousin who lives in TX wanted him to come help shop on Black friday for gifts to take to Africa, i told him to have them call me if they needed to verify with me & they called & wished me Happythxgiving instead(it was thanksgiving day).They also wished him a Happy thxgiving,gave him a new I-94 for 6months & told him to enjoy his stay in America & he should also take it easy with the black friday shopping.He couldn't believe it, b/4 then he was so nervous & scared,calling me every 2-3mins, i told him to chill,America is different,tell them the truth so long as u r here for a genuine purpose.It took him about 10-15mins to get into d US after being detained @ d Barbadian airport 4 over 3hrs.

I've called the Barbadian consulate almost everyday this week cursing them out even though they apologised.You don't tell people one thing & do another.I even said they should mind the way they treat US Nigerians.I then ended by asking them to require a Visa to enter their country instead of throwing people out after they spent their money preparing for a trip.I'm calling them again next week to curse them out till i've had my fill.Nonsense.

[liveurlife 0]

By the way, since u r an American, they will let you in but your husband who is a Nigerian will not be allowed entry, so if you don't want to be separated from your husband, take a trip elsewhere or just com chill out out here, there are a lot of beautiful places here in the US where you can relax.

Goodluck.

[TBoneTX 45,266]

*** Thread moved from Effects of Major Changes forum to the Africa/Sub-Saharan regional forum -- off-topic issue requires Nigeria-specific input. ***

Edited December 1, 2012 by TBoneTX

[onourway12 0]

Don't bother to go to Barbados if you live in Nigeria, they'll not let you into the island with that green passport alone, u'll be detained at the airport & bundled on the next available flight out of there.Even though Nigerians don't need a Visa into Barbados,u'll be detained like an illegal alien @ d airport.I just had an awful experience with my cousin who have travelled all over the world & came to visit me in the USA.He stayed longer,so instead of his I-94 to expire, i decided to send him to barbados 4 2weeks so he can reenter the US on a new I-94.I called and inquired from the Barbadian consulate about travelling to the island as a Nigerian & they told me it was ok, all you needed was a ticket,your unexpired passport & a hotel reservation for the time duration.All that i did, only for him to be detained & bundled back same day to the US on the next available flight,he was scared but i told him to relax & that when he gets to the MIAport,he should just tell the Immigration officer that he went to Barbados for Vacation but they did not let him enter b/c he was a nigerian & that he wanted to return to Nigeria from here but his cousin who lives in TX wanted him to come help shop on Black friday for gifts to take to Africa, i told him to have them call me if they needed to verify with me & they called & wished me Happythxgiving instead(it was thanksgiving day).They also wished him a Happy thxgiving,gave him a new I-94 for 6months & told him to enjoy his stay in America & he should also take it easy with the black friday shopping.He couldn't believe it, b/4 then he was so nervous & scared,calling me every 2-3mins, i told him to chill,America is different,tell them the truth so long as u r here for a genuine purpose.It took him about 10-15mins to get into d US after being detained @ d Barbadian airport 4 over 3hrs.

I've called the Barbadian consulate almost everyday this week cursing them out even though they apologised.You don't tell people one thing & do another.I even said they should mind the way they treat US Nigerians.I then ended by asking them to require a Visa to enter their country instead of throwing people out after they spent their money preparing for a trip.I'm calling them again next week to curse them out till i've had my fill.Nonsense.

wow, what an experience. Thank God he was able to enter back into the States without a problem. Gotta love our USA!! lol. This ordeal he went thru is so discouraging to me. I really wanted to have a vaca with my husband away from Nigeria for a while. I had heard of horror stories with people getting sent back after traveling all over the place to get there, but I just figured if Im entering Barbados with my husband and we have reservations and money to support us, that we would be OK. Its true what you said, they should just require a VISA if they are going to be so darn strict!! Keep calling and giving them HECK! lol

[onourway12 0]

By the way, since u r an American, they will let you in but your husband who is a Nigerian will not be allowed entry, so if you don't want to be separated from your husband, take a trip elsewhere or just com chill out out here, there are a lot of beautiful places here in the US where you can relax.

Goodluck.

BTW...he has no visa to come to the US or believe me, Id already be traveling there with him. We havent started the CR-1 yet, though now im think that we should since even traveling anywhere else is going to be a joke.

[Aya820 33]

Don't bother to go to Barbados if you live in Nigeria, they'll not let you into the island with that green passport alone, u'll be detained at the airport & bundled on the next available flight out of there.Even though Nigerians don't need a Visa into Barbados,u'll be detained like an illegal alien @ d airport.I just had an awful experience with my cousin who have travelled all over the world & came to visit me in the USA.He stayed longer,so instead of his I-94 to expire, i decided to send him to barbados 4 2weeks so he can reenter the US on a new I-94.I called and inquired from the Barbadian consulate about travelling to the island as a Nigerian & they told me it was ok, all you needed was a ticket,your unexpired passport & a hotel reservation for the time duration.All that i did, only for him to be detained & bundled back same day to the US on the next available flight,he was scared but i told him to relax & that when he gets to the MIAport,he should just tell the Immigration officer that he went to Barbados for Vacation but they did not let him enter b/c he was a nigerian & that he wanted to return to Nigeria from here but his cousin who lives in TX wanted him to come help shop on Black friday for gifts to take to Africa, i told him to have them call me if they needed to verify with me & they called & wished me Happythxgiving instead(it was thanksgiving day).They also wished him a Happy thxgiving,gave him a new I-94 for 6months & told him to enjoy his stay in America & he should also take it easy with the black friday shopping.He couldn't believe it, b/4 then he was so nervous & scared,calling me every 2-3mins, i told him to chill,America is different,tell them the truth so long as u r here for a genuine purpose.It took him about 10-15mins to get into d US after being detained @ d Barbadian airport 4 over 3hrs.

I've called the Barbadian consulate almost everyday this week cursing them out even though they apologised.You don't tell people one thing & do another.I even said they should mind the way they treat US Nigerians.I then ended by asking them to require a Visa to enter their country instead of throwing people out after they spent their money preparing for a trip.I'm calling them again next week to curse them out till i've had my fill.Nonsense.

Unless I am reading the Barbados Travel website incorrectly, Nigerian citizens do need Visa to enter. However, US & Candian citizens only need their "current passports and a valid return ticket".

BARBADOS

Passports

Every person entering Barbados, including all North American citizens (Americans and Canadians), should be in possession of a valid passport and a valid return ticket.

Visas required for Barbados Visas are required for citizens from the following countries:

Afghanistan Libya

Albania Madagascar

Algeria Mali

Angola Marshall Islands

Armenia Mauritania

Australia Micronesia, Federate States Of

Azerbaijan Moldova, Republic Of

Bahrain Monaco(formerly Burma)

Bangladesh Morocco

Belarus Mongolia

Benin Mozambique

Bermuda (Visa Required If You Are Travelling In-Transit To Bermuda For Twelve (12) Hours Or More) Myanmar (Formerly Burma)

Bhutan Namibia

Bolivia Nauru

Bosnia - Herzegovina New Caledonia

Brunei Darussalam New Zealand

Burkina Faso Nigeria

[onourway12 0]

I saw that on that site as well, but I think it is incorrect because everywhere else we look, it states no Visa is necessary.

[Aya820 33]

I saw that on that site as well, but I think it is incorrect because everywhere else we look, it states no Visa is necessary.

Well it is Barbados official website...the other sites like Yahoo are not..soooooo...

[Treva 3]

I just stumbled up on this post, and you're right. It is a tough situation. Why not stay on the continent? I'm sure there are nice upscale spots to vacation in another african country where he won't need a visa and would be much easier to get to, like Ghana? or Kenya?

Regarding Barbados, currently Nigerians are allowed to enter without a visa for six month maximum stay. I just checked timatic. Immigration may check for return/onward ticket, sufficient funds, etc but should allow him entry. Visa requirements can change just like politics can change, and timatic is always kept updated. The wise thing to do, if you can, is to contact Barbados immigration and try to get them to send you something in writing (even by fax) with hubbies name and passport number on official letterhead that states he should be allowed entry. Tell them you are requesting this letter to be on the safe side because of his "friend" who was detained, denied entry, and sent back. That letter would act like visa for him to carry and be able to present upon arrival in case of any problem.

Otherwise, I hear Turkey is nice this time of year, and there are nonstop flights from Lagos.

[ajigglin 0]

You and your husband should go to another ecowas country.

[velrich 50]

They treat Jamaicans who visit Barbadoes just as badly. Mostly if you are not there on business or appear to be a wealthy tourist you will have problems being admitted.

Right now there is a case in court filed by a Jamaican woman because of the way she was treated. The situation was made very public in the Caribbean. She is being assisted by the Jamaican government with her lawsuit.

This is her story http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/barbados_news/571008.html#axzz2EgA1kAsW