I'm applying to St. James for September 2008 and i was wondering if i will be able to bring my girlfriend and our two kids. Also if she is able to come, will she be able to work will on the island? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

From the little I understand about the situation, it's a bad idea to consider bringing the kiddos. Your girlfriend would probably be allowed, but she has to prove the ability to support herself while there. Most visitors are only allowed a 90 day visa.

This has been tried before. No she will not be able to work. Your kids will have to be home schooled, if they can stay. The last student who had her family stay for a month had immigration called on her. I don't think it's worth the problems.

Both of my kids live with me on the island. I had to have meeting after meeting with the Governor's office just to get the permission for my kids to stay. The kids do not have to be homeschooled. They are allowed to attend the schools on the island once the Governor's office gives permission for them to stay (which they told me they will not do for anymore SJ students' families) but they are all taught in Dutch. There are no English speaking schools on the island which is why anyone that brings their kids usually do homeschooling or cyber schooling. Mine do the cyber schooling and it is working out pretty well for them (they are 13 and 14).

If you are not a Dutch citizen or born on Bonaire you are not permitted to work on the island. Your girlfriend and your children would be granted a 90 day stay on the island per year then they would have to leave again.

The Governor's office told me during my whole ordeal to let any incoming students with families know they are not going to allow families to stay. There is a way around it, which is once you come to the island they can't leave until you graduate. But then you take the chance of someone telling immigration and them getting kicked off the island (which they have done before) and they would not be allowed to come back.

Do not take your kids, that's not wise.

Some people have no choice but to take their children and it is a wise decision to have your children with you since you are the one caring for them! If you want to go to med school in the Caribbean, Bonaire is not a family friendly environment but many of the other island are a lot more accepting of families coming along with a student. As a med student with kids, I applaud anyone that can keep their family together while studying to become a doctor to make a nice life for their families!!!!! St. Eustatius is one of them. I am looking into transferring there myself if SJ doesn't get loans for the fall.

Thanks for all the response guys. I have a telephone interview with them in 2 hrs.

Hey guys, i got accepted at St. James and they asked me a few times if my family would be moving there with me. I responded yes but they never indicated in any way that this would cause a problem. Their main concern is if i would be able to focus on my school work with a family there. They never made it seem as if my family would have to leave after 90 days. Also why would their website talk about housing for families if they are not welcome to stay? I also read on the forum that SJSM was not offering loans, however the representative on the phone gave me the name and phone number of the loans contact i am suppose to speak to about arrangements for a loan. I'm sort of confused here. Could someone clarify this for me. Thanks

Contact the Bonaire consulate to find out for sure, but if they are there as visitors they will only be allowed 90 days. After that they will have to leave and return.

SJSM has been in negotiations with some lenders to secure student loans, so maybe they came up with something. Keep in mind the TERI loans are pretty much non-existent since the principle founder filed bankruptcy. I'd be interested to know who the loan is through though.

SJ always told me my family could come with me to stay...guess what, it isn't true! Soon as you hit the island and try to get them permission to stay the Bonaire government will tell you what everyone has already said here.