Federal officials have reversed a rule change that would have required Virgin Islanders to travel to Puerto Rico to apply for or renew emergency passports, Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis announced Tuesday.

In a statement released by both his office and his gubernatorial campaign committee, Francis said, "This policy was just plain wrong and made no sense. As soon as I learned about it, I recognized the financial hardship that it would impose on residents of the territory."

Francis said he spent Monday and Tuesday in discussion with the assistant director of the Miami Passport Agency to get the decision reversed.

"Our local passport policies are now restored, and the Virgin Islands will continue to process all passport applications in the territory, as we have been doing for years," he said. "There is no longer a requirement to travel to Puerto Rico to obtain an emergency passport."

According to the Francis news release, the lieutenant governor explained to the unnamed Miami passport official the hardships that Virgin Islanders would endure as a result of the new policy. After a "high level meeting," of agency officials decided to reverse the decision.

On Tuesday, Francis thanked the Miami Passport Agency for following through on his requests for a review of the VI passport policy.

"I appreciate the due diligence on their part, and applaud the Miami office for working with me personally to quickly resolve this important matter," he said.