USVI at a Glance

Government

The U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States consisting officially of four islands - St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and Water Island - with a local government structure defined by the federal Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended.  Internal political affairs are under the jurisdiction of an elected governor and a 15-member unicameral legislature.  In addition to the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own system of local courts, including a Superior Court and a Supreme Court.

Like most insular territories of the US, the US Virgin Islands operate under a "mirror tax system" with the US income tax laws.  This means that for many taxpayers, the tax forms and calculations are the same as what would be expected elsewhere in the US.  The key difference: taxes owed are remitted or allocated to the territorial Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) instead of the IRS.  While remitting taxes to the BIR, the USVI remains a US jurisdiction subject to US laws including corporate, intellectual property and investment laws.  It also has support from Philadelphia's Third Circuit Court of Appeals which has federal and appellate jurisdiction of the USVI.

The US Virgin Islands are a relaxing place with a rich history and modern infrastructure which offers a very attractive and competitive business environment.

The people of the U.S. Virgin Islands elect a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.  The delegate can vote in committee, but does not have a vote on legislation in the full House of Representatives.

Workforce

The U.S. Virgin Islands total labor force of roughly 50,000 people is constantly advancing.  Laborers participate in a variety of business sectors, including tourism, manufacturing, maritime, financial services, e-commerce and agriculture.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has developed a progressive educational program that spans all three islands.  Regional and international programs at the University of the Virgin Islands provide important training to workers, including those from outside the Territory.

The U.S. Virgin Islands hosts about 2.6 million visitors a year.  Tourism accounts for approximately 60 percent of the gross domestic product and accounts for the majority of private sector employment.  The workforce is being trained for a diversified economy to service the finance and high-technology sectors.  As a U.S. territory, those employed in the U.S. Virgin Islands work under the U.S. tax and currency system as well as U.S. labor and immigration laws.

U.S. Virgin Islands Key Facts

• Location: Eastern Caribbean, 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida
• Total Area: 130 square miles, twice the size of Washington, D.C.
• Population: 108,605
• Total Labor Force: 50,627
• Unemployment Rate: 6.1%
• Religion: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
• Languages: English 74.7%, Spanish 16.8%, French 6.6%, other 1.9%
• Capital: Charlotte Amalie, located on St. Thomas
• Temperature: Average range of 77 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit

St. Thomas is known for having one long ridge of hills running east and west through the center of the island with smaller ridges branching off from the center.  Being thirteen miles long by four miles wide, St. Thomas encompasses a little over 31 square miles.  The highest point is Crown Mountain at 1,556 feet.  St. Thomas has a beautiful natural harbor and many protected bays.  There are relatively no flat areas on St. Thomas.

St. John is located about 4 miles from St. Thomas' east end.  It has hills and valleys and relatively few flat areas.  St. John encompasses 20 square miles of beautiful scenery.  The island is 7 miles long by 3 miles wide. The highest point is Bordeaux Mountain at 1,277 feet.  The island's coastal areas have many fine protected bays.  A natural harbor is found in Coral Bay.  However, Cruz Bay is the main town and 'harbor'.  More than two-thirds of the island is protected by the National Park Service.

St. Croix is 84 square miles in size, 22 miles long and the widest point is a little more than 6 miles across.  The terrain on the east end of the island is rocky and arid with short grassy hillsides and many cactus clusters.  The west end of the island is lush with large fruit trees and ferns gracing the mountains.  In the middle of the island are miles of beautiful beaches, rolling pasturelands and beautiful land.  St. Croix's highest peak, Mount Eagle, is 1,088 feet high.  The land slopes to flatlands on the southern side of the island.  There are two main towns, Frederiksted and Christiansted.  There are a few natural harbors and protected bays.  St. Croix is about 40 miles away from St. Thomas.

A Place for History

• Five hundred years of modern history
• First inhabited by Carib, Arawak, and Tainos
• Christopher Columbus visited on his 2nd voyage
• Alexander Hamilton spent formative years here
• English, Dutch, Danish, Spanish, the Knights of Malta, French heritage, and USA

A Place for Business

• Top-Tier Concentration of High-Speed Broadband Capacity: The broadband capacity and global connectivity is among the highest in the world.
• United States Jurisdiction: Enables the enforcement of laws for US corporations, intellectual property and investments.
• Corporate Tax Incentives and Exemptions: A globally competitive operating environment that is bolstered by an unprecedented waiver of local and federal income taxes.
• Geographically Near-Shore to the United States: Daily flights connect with major mainland cities from both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
• Attractive Natural Environment and Quality of Life: White sandy beaches, clear blue skies and temperate waters create a near perfect environment for almost every water sport. The proximity of a myriad of neighboring islands provides the opportunity to explore new cultures.