Suriname announces new immigration measures for Chinese nationals

The President of Suriname Desi Bouterse has announced a significant decrease in the fees paid by illegal Chinese immigrations to regularize their status in the country even as the authorities said that they had deported 61 foreigners including 22 Chinese nationals in January.

According to the official figures released, the authorities also deported 27 Brazilians, nine Guyanese, two Dutch and a Congolese national last month after they failed to regularize their status.

Marking Chinese New Year

Speaking at celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year on Friday, Bouterse said that illegal Chinese nationals would now have a three-month period to pay US$ 2,000 in order to regularize their status.

The announcement was welcomed by another parliamentarian, Stephan Tsang, a Chinese descent, who has on several occasions voiced his concern regarding the legalization process and fees for illegal Chinese immigrants.

Fee can go lower

Tsang told reporters he was surprised by the move adding “we are happy with the gesture, but I think the amount can go lower”.

When the project ‘Legalization of illegal foreigners’ was launched in September 2017 it was established that nationals from Caribbean and South-American nations would have to pay US$600, while illegal aliens from elsewhere, including those from china, were asked to pay US$3,000.

The authorities estimate that as many as 15,000 foreigners reside illegally in Suriname.