Legal residnecy

Just go trade your "driving" license in, then go over to Board of Elections to get a voters registration, then POOF!! you are a resident. I did this with my friend 3 days after she moved here, it was so simple.

That is assuming you are already a citizen of the United States. If you are not, you cannot become a resident of the USVI. The rules here for living and working are just the same as for Montana, Indiana or any state in the union.

A Legal resident for what purpose? For Voter registration 90 day's, on the island and named on a lease or deed, for tax purpose 6 months of living on the island with lease or deed( this changed due to Hedge fund requirements) the tax authority, call it a bonafide resident. Having a drivers license does not make you a resident, it just allows you to drive on the island, your stateside license is good for up to 90 days.

Paying taxes has something to do with it, too.

You also must live on Island a minimum of 180 days per year.

Now they are requiring you to present a copy of your driving record from the state you are moving from to get a VI drivers license. Something to know before going and standing for hours.

This is what the IRS says:

Under the new Section 937 an individual is generally considered a bona fide resident of a possession if (1) he or she is physically present in the possession for 183 days during the taxable year, (2) does not have a tax home outside the possession during the tax year, and (3) does not have a closer connection to the U.S. or a foreign country. However, U.S. citizens and resident aliens are permitted certain exceptions to the 183-day rule.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97321,00.html

Tax wise there can be advantages to becoming a VI resident.

As Lizard asked, for what purpose? If you want to go to college, for instance, it's a year to receive resident tuition.