But we didn't only speak to customers in the line, we also reached out to the Immigration C.E.O. Gilroy Middleton who sat down with us to address the recent passport woes surrounding high prices and long wait times.
Here's what he told us about what's causing the present situation and what his department is doing to further streamline the passport process.
The last time 7News went to the Immigration department we were met with bricks and cones and the warden of long lines fit to be exploited.
But this morning months after the implementation of an appointment system and the forced removal of those so-called "agents" the hustle outside the gates seemed to be mostly cleaned up.
But given the new price, and the ever-growing wait times, getting a passport is still far from painless.
And inside the halls of the department C.E.O. Gilroy Middleton sat down with us to explain the rationale for the 400% increase in the price of a passport: he said it's the regional standard:
Gilroy Middleton, Chief Executive Officer, Immigration
"Our travel document cost as an adult BZD $200BZD, Grenada equivalent to $210BZD, USA $260BZD, Barbados is the lowest which is $150BZD, Mexico I think a year ago we got a copy of their document $384BZD, Panama $200 BZD for 5 years. Our document comes at a cost for adults of $200BZD."
And in addressing the passport book shortage Middleton laid out some of the reasons why the post-covid demand has been record breaking.
Gilroy Middleton, Chief Executive Officer, Immigration
"In the simplest sense when we began in October we got some 4,000 passports, when we were in early December we realized that that would not be enough as a result of people realizing that they could pay $50 for a $200 world class document. So this increase in demand has led to, in the simplest sense of economics, a shortage, and by mid-January we had a second shipment that was scheduled to come in, some 10,000. So we received those and that addressed all the backlog."
"Looking at previous figures. It was estimated at some 20,000 passports per year. So, we estimated at some 25,000 for the year. As a result of the public being informed that the fees would be using a 17-year-old fee for a foreign document that may be one of the economic reasons for the high demand so lower fee, another reason may be as a result of individual having not been traveling for Covid and passports being expired but in essence we have had an extremely high demand for passports. After the first month and a half the statistics showed that."
"We made a database-driven decision, we informed our suppliers, Canadian banknote and it has taken them until this month to be able to address it."
So, passport books are on the way and the hope is that once the new shipment arrives the department will be able to process a large amount in a rather short time span.
Gilroy Middleton, Chief Executive Officer, Immigration
"So, in seven working days the 18th of April the entire situation will be addressed in that we will be getting a large supply of E-passports that will be here in approximately 12-13 working days. So, at that point we already have the printing the part with the printing unit ready to go and we will be moving a couple people in there where we will be working overtime to get everything out."
As you heard, Middleton stressed that increased, record demand for passports is driving the long delays. Compared to the same period last year, there has been an over 100% increase in passport applications, and in the five months since October 25th to April first, the passport office has issued more than what would be an average year's production.
And hoping to help with emergency and holiday travel needs for Belizeans, C.E.O. Gilroy Middleton offered up some alternative travel documents that Belizeans can look into. These include:
A $40 dollar border permit that can be used to enter and exit Belize and Guatemala via our Western and Southern Border stations. The annual cost is $20.00 per year. There is also a Border Crossing Card for $40 per year that can be used to exit and enter the Belize Northern Border Only - and you would have to get the equivalent card - which is free on the Mexican side.
