Belizeans Travel Across U.S. for Passport and Nationality Services at Evanston Diaspora Hub

By Zoila Palma: Belizeans from across the Chicago area and several other parts of the United States travelled to Evanston this weekend to access passport and nationality services brought directly to the diaspora by Belize’s Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour.

The three-day Evanston Diaspora Hub runs from August 7 to 9. The event provides passport and nationality services, including first-time and renewal passport applications, as well as applications for Belizean nationality by descent.

The ministry says that the outreach provides a more convenient way to complete important documentation without having to travel to Belize. Belizean passport applicants are required to appear in person at an Immigration Office in Belize or at a designated Belizean diplomatic or consular mission, making mobile outreach efforts particularly valuable for Belizeans living far from those locations.

The Evanston hub also highlighted the strong community ties among Belizeans living in the United States. Some Chicago-area residents noted that they have built a vibrant Belizean community and are preparing to host a fundraiser on Saturday to provide scholarships to 14 Belizean-American students attending school.

Belize’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Nestor E. Mendez, visited the hub alongside Belize’s Ambassador for Diaspora Relations, Sandhya Murphy, as officials engaged with Belizeans accessing the services.

The Evanston initiative follows other diaspora outreach efforts by the Government of Belize in the United States. Earlier this year, approximately 230 passports and 17 nationality certificates were delivered to Belizeans abroad during another outreach initiative, reflecting continued demand for documentation services within Belizean communities across the United States.

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