Bitcoin entrepreneur Roger Ver was not allowed by US Embassy officials to enter the country for attending the bitcoin conference.
Prominent bitcoin investor Roger Ver has been denied a visa to enter the US, although he was born in the country. According to consulate officials, there is a risk of him staying in the US illegally.
The rejection is due to the lack of “ties” to his residence country in the Caribbean islands. Ver has not proved he has enough ties to return back to the island after his travel to the US.
Also known as “Bitcoin Jesus”, the entrepreneur was en route to the bitcoin conference in Miami to give his speech on digital currency. It was the third time Ver was denied the US traveling visa over the last eight days.
Ver posted a photo of him wearing a T-shirt that read “borders are imaginary lines” on Twitter. The photo was taken at the US Embassy in Barbados, where he applied.
Last year, Ver renounced his citizenship and moved to St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, the island known for the favorable tax situation. Under the program called “Citizenship by Investment” the government of St. Kitts and Nevis offers citizenship for those who want to avoid high taxation levels in their home countries.
The program requires: “… an investment in designated real estate with a value of at least US$ 400,000 plus payment of various registration and other fees (the Real-Estate Option), or a contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (a public charity) to the amount of between US$ 250,000 and US$ 450,000, depending on the number of dependants included in the application (the SIDF Contribution Option)”
Today, all citizens of the US are required to pay federal income taxes, regardless of where they live, either within the country or abroad.
Meantime, Ver said on Reddit: “I’ve lived outside the USA for about 9 years now. I have family and friends in Japan now too. I’m sure I will never ever live in the USA again.”
“I still do live in Japan. My second home is in St Kitts. The U.S. embassy refused to even allow me to slide my proof of ties to Japan under their window for them to review,” he added.
After receiving his St. Kitts passport last year, Ver launched PassportsForBitcoin.com, which was closed by the local authorities. The website redirects users to the law company that aids people to obtain citizenship and residence at the St. Kitts and Nevis island.
Following the rejection, Ver can apply again later, although his criminal record could pose certain challenges. In 2002, he was jailed for 10 months for selling firecrackers on eBay.
Polina is an undergraduate student at Belarusian State Economic University (BSEU) where she is studying at the faculty of International Business Communication for a degree specializing in Intercultural Communication. In her spare time she enjoys drawing, music and travelling.
