With all the HIV testing being pushed recently on the radio and various media outlets, the news breaking of false positive tests belonging to expat workers, etc, I can’t help but wonder is there any kind of immigration requirements being implemented that require people to be tested for various contagious diseases and STDs before coming to live in the Cayman Islands? And if they do have any of these diseases present in their system, does it even affect the decision of the immigration board whether they get approved or denied entry to the country? Before I applied for my student visa for the US, I was required to take such tests, so I’m hoping that it’s required here, too.
Auntie’s answer: I am assuming from your question that you have never had to apply for a work permit in Cayman. Part of the process to be granted an initial permit or to renew one is getting a medical exam (once every three years), which includes a chest X-ray (every five years) and HIV and syphilis (VDRL or venereal disease research laboratory) tests. For more information on the requirements for the medical part of the application click here.
But if the application is for a temporary work permit of up to three months a medical examination is not required.
In addition, as pointed out by a very helpful immigration representative, Section 44(2)(a) of the Immigration Law (2015 Revision) says that when considering an application, the Work Permit Board, in relation to the worker, can look at “his (or her) character, reputation and health, and where relevant, the character, reputation and health of his (her) dependants”.
So health is definitely a consideration that, along with others included in Section 44(2) to (4), can come into play when the board or the chief immigration officer refuses or revokes a work permit.
The official also noted that this is a general answer to your question as each application is decided on its own merits.
The law mentioned in this column can be found on the CNS Library
Locals should be tested and have their behavior open for study not hidden and kept out of the paper Look how many bad minded caymanians hire people only to end up giving the expat the short end of the stick
Why does it concern you so much that you have to ask auntie? It is not like you easily contract contagious diseases this days. Common sense and worry free state of your mind are helpful. With all its flaws CIG is doing its job to keep you safe.
So this question is about your excessive worry.
Just like the question about pre marital sex. It tried to shift blame on a healthy young man with healthy for body and mind desires, rather than see that the real issue is lack of such desires in 19 years old woman, which could be a sign of some past traumas.
People should not be discriminated because they have HIV. HIV is a treatable disease and needs to disclosed before sexual contact.
False positives are common. Indeed most tests err towards false positives. It is false negatives that are the concern. Saying that, visitors have more to worry about their helth in interacting with the local population than the other way round.