Information on St John, USVI

Passport Info | Island Manners | Important Phone Numbers | Places of Worship | Banking | Postal Services

Island Manners

Before you talk business greet everyone with a " Hello, how are you?", “Good Morning”, "Good Evening” or "Good Day". This is the local custom and locals and residents of St. John appreciate being greeted before questions are asked.

Another important thing to know is it is frowned upon to wear beach attire in town. Be discreet and cover up. Beach wear is for the beach not town.

Be aware that residents may be trying get to work on time so when stopping to enjoy the scenery or get that picture of the donkey please pull over so others can go on their way. Know that around any corner there could be a cow, goat or car stopped taking pictures or driving on the right by mistake. If you expect it that helps. Think LEFT.

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Important Phone Numbers

Alchoholics Anonymous (340) 776-5283
Clinic (340) 776-6400
Emergency: 911
Correct Time: 929
Directory Assistance: 913
National Park Service (340) 776-6201
VI Dept.Tourism’s Visitors Bureau (800)372-8784
Tourist Info. St. John: (340) 776-6450
Dial-A-Ride: (340) 776 1277

Medical Services

Emergency 911
Cruz Bay Family Practice (340) 776-6789
Morris F. DeCastro Clinic ~ Cruz Bay, next to park
Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center: (340) 693-8900, Centerline Rd at Gift Hill.
24 hr emergency, outpatient medical facility. Appts: 8 AM - 8 PM, Walk-ins accepted.
Hospital, St. Thomas: 160 beds, decompression chamber, 24 hr emergency (340) 776-8311

Pharmacy-Chelsea Drugstore
(340) 778-4888, The Marketplace, Cruz Bay,
full service pharmacy

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Passport and Visa Information

It is highly recommended for US Citizens to bring along their passport when traveling to the US Virgin Islands. Although not officially required to show one on the flight down you will be required on your return trip to provide evidence of citizenship by showing a passport, driver's license, birth certificate or voters registration card along with a picture ID.

Non US citizens but permanent residents, need certificate of alien registration or green card on leaving territory.

If you are planning to make a day trip to the British Virgin Islands definitely bring your passports. They will not let you in without it.

Citizens of other countries should carry whatever the US Travel regulations request. Where no visa is necessary have your passport and the green I-94. If a visa is required then bring the white I-94 and your passport.

US Immigration and Naturalization Service office: (340) 774-4279

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Places of Worship

Bahai's National Spiritual Assembly
(340) 776 6254

Bethany Moravian Church
(340) 776 6291

Christian Science Society of St. John
(340) 776 6273

Cruz Bay Baptist Church
(340) 776 6315

Cruz Bay Seventh Day Adventist
(340) 779 4477

Emmaus Moravian Church, Coral Bay
(340) 776 6713

Jehovah's Witness
Nazareth Lutheran Church
(340) 776 6731

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Mission
(340) 776 6339

St. John Missionary Baptist Church
(340) 693 8884

St. Ursula's Anglican Church
(340) 693 8580

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
(340) 776 6922
(ask for Unitarian Information)

United Methodist Church
(340) 693 8830

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Banking and Western Union

Western Union Money Orders & Money Wire Transfers
Connections - Cruz Bay (340) 776-6922
Notary Public: Connections, Cruz Bay (340) 776-6922,
DMV Building and the Scandic Offices upper Mongoose Junction


First Bank
Center of Cruz Bay
Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00
Closed weekends & holidays
(340)776 6881

ATM
ATM in Starfish Market Place, first floor
Available during
market hours

Scotia Bank,
Market Place, first floor
Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00
Closed weekends & holidays
(340)774 0037, ATM available


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Postal Services

US Post Office
Monday to Friday: 9:00 - 12:00, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Connections Cruz Bay and Coral Bay

Connections in Cruz Bay
Postage & Mailing Service (340) 776-6922
Mon. - Sat.: 9:30 AM - 5:30 AM

Connections East in Coral Bay
Postage & Mailing Services (340) 779-4994
Mon. - Fri.: 9:30 AM - 5:30 AM; Sat: 9:30 - 1:30

The Mail Center, The Marketplace in Cruz Bay
Postage & Mailing Service (340) 714-7250
packing, shipping, copies, faxing, stamps


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Local Newspapers

St. John One Source - only online

The Virgin Islands Daily News

News Of St. John
St. John Times Published once a month ... written by
and for St. John residents and visitors....
The St. John Daily
The Virgin Voice, in print and on-line
The Tradewinds , St. John Newspaper in the Virgin Islands

http://www.varlack-ventures.com/vvfiles/visitor_tips.htm#churches

ESSENTIAL & EMERGENCY SERVICES

Internet Access & Computer Repair

Connections, Cruz Bay, (340) 776-6922
Internet access and other communications services

Connections East: Coral Bay, (340) 779-4994
Internet access and other communications services.

Cyber Celtic Cafe , Cruz Bay ~ (340) 779-4799
Internet Access & Cafe / Pub

Computer World ~ (340) 693-9393, Cruz Bay
Internet access, computer & printer rental, scanning, copy, and printing services, product sales, software skill courses, hardware & software troubleshooting.

Surfa da Web & Culver Consulting~ (340) 693-9152, Internet access and computer repair. Laptop stations.

POWER & COMMUNICATIONS

Electricity
As in the rest of the States the standard 110 volts/60 Hz electrical power is used. Power outages are more common here than stateside but generally do not last long.

Telephone
"340" is the area code for the US Virgin Islands, calls between the islands are considered local. Country code is "1" and the Outgoing International code is "011"
Telephone IDD is available

Public Phones & Phone Cards
Public phones ask for 35 cents to make a call, and it is not always easy to get through. Most of the convenience stores and markets sell Phone Cards, be sure to pick one that works in the Islands.

Phone & Fax Services
Connections East in Coral Bay FAX: (340) 779-4994
Connections West in Cruz Bay FAX: (340) 776-6922

Cell Phones have become much more popular here in the last couple of years but due to the mountainous nature of the island they can not always be reliable. Check with your provider to see if your service works in the USVI and do not count on being able to use it on the east end of the island

St. John works on Atlantic Standard Time zone, GMT+4 except that daylight-saving time is not observed. The days do get shorter in the winter months but only by an hour or two. During the summer months it is light from around 6 AM until 7:30 PM approximately.


Water

With the exception of Cruz Bay and the Resorts water is collected from rain and stored in individual cisterns.Conserve it whenever possible when the cistern runs dry water must be transported over from the water plants on St. Thomas. It is recommended that you drink bottled water.


GOVERNMENT, TAXES & DUTY


About the Government

St. John is a part of the US Virgin Islands which is an UN-incorporated US Territory with a locally elected governor and senate. The government is made up of three branches - the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. Fifteen senators are elected every two years. Government elections are every four years.

An elected representative is sent to Congress however the territory residents do not get to vote in the presidential elections. Virgin Islanders do pay federal income taxes but the collected monies stay in their local treasury.

The territory of the Virgin Islands is administrated by the Department of the Interior.

Citizenship: American

Government of the US Virgin Islands: US Virgin Islands Government - Official Site

Passport & Visa Requirements

US Citizens are highly recommended to bring along their passport when traveling to the US Virgin Islands. Although not officially required to show one on the flight down you will be required on your return trip to provide evidence of citizenship by showing a passport, driver's license, birth certificate or voters registration card along with a picture ID.

Non US citizens but permanent residents, need certificate of alien registration or green card on leaving territory.

If you are planning to make a day trip to the British Virgin Islands definitely bring your passports.

Citizens of other countries should carry whatever the US Travel regulations request. Where no visa is necessary have your passport and the green I-94. If a visa is required then bring the white I-94 and your passport.

US Immigration and Naturalization Service office: (340) 774-4279

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