This is a blog post on how an H1-B candidate got his stamping at Kingston,Jamaica. There have been increasing number of people going for their H-1B Stamping at Jamaica recently. This article is a case study which would be of help if you plan to go for H-1B Stamping to Jamaica.

Visa Stamping Experience – Case Study

Background:

Consulate: Kingston, Jamaica
Date: Sep 9, 2013 – 9:00 AM Appointment
Visa: H1B Renewal
Previous Stamping: H1B – Ottawa Canada, March 2012
Employment: EVC Model. Employer, Vendor and Client Letters available
Education: MS from US University.

Interview

Greetings Exchanged
VO: Who do you work for?
Me: XXX LLC. <Employer name>
My friend from the same company appeared for a 7:00 AM appointment. We happened to go to the same officer unknowingly. His Visa was issued as well.

VO: The other guy who came from your company! Do you know him?
Me: Yes. We came together

VO: Why are you here?
Me: For my H1B Renewal interview.

VO: I am asking why Jamaica! (With a very friendly expression)
Me: To get my Visa renewal completed and to see around Jamaica.

VO: (After typing in the system for few minutes) I know you want go get out of here once you get your Visa. Somehow Indians started liking this consulate (with a witty smile). Please keep this red stub careful and collect your Visa on Wednesday afternoon 2 PM at the same place. They kept the passport and the 797 as well.
Me: Thank you very much. Should I assume my Visa is approved?

VO: No assumptions needed. Your Visa is issued and we do not see any procrastination unless something drastic happens.

My interview lasted for 2 minutes at the most and I did not have to open my file honestly!

Travelling to Kingston, Jamaica

When flying to Kingston, purchase both way tickets. Keep in mind to buy separate one ways and buy a refundable return fare. I bought just one way as I did last time to Canada. In Canada, I was not asked where the return ticket is. In Kingston, I was stopped in the customs and my friend as well, asking for the return ticket. They made me purchase a return fare to the US. My friend did not have a valid Visa and he was forced to purchase a return ticket to India. This turned out to be more nuisance than you think. Buy a full-refundable fare return ticket 3 days from your Visa appointment date in Kingston. These tickets could be pricey but you should not be worried at all. After your interview (or even after getting into Jamaica), you can cancel these without losing a penny and buy the actual tickets.

Staying in Kingston, Jamaica

If you want to stay in a hotel, stay in New Kingston only. Room rates could be pricey for this city, around 120 USD per night. I do not have firsthand information on hotel rooms here. Last time when I went to Canada, I had to stay 8 nights and that burnt a hole in my wallet. This time, anticipating the same, I tried to play as less-fancy as possible. I stayed at a BnB place in the Beverly Hills area which worked out so well for me and my friends as well. The place was super affordable and not at all hotel like. If you need more info, PM me from my profile. The property owner recommended a driver and I hired him throughout the trip. Kingston by itself is not fancy by any means. Do not expect any Caribbean or touristy experience in Kingston. The place is a dead rubber after 9 PM, at least the areas which may interest you.

The Consulate – Jamaica

The lines outside the consulate could be very very very long. Appear at the consulate ONLY 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment. You can stand in the long line, and mention to the security that you have an appointment in 30 minutes. They will take you to the front. All people in the queue come too early hoping that they will be let inside. Typical!

One of the staff members will look for the following for a H1B interview:

• Passport.
• Appointment confirmation letter, NOT DS 160 Confirmation.
• Recent Photograph (even though the DS 160 has one).
• I-797

They will arrange them, staple and direct you to the security entrance.
Once screened, you will be directed to the next building which is like 200 feet away. I felt like the Chennai consulate which I went more than 5 years ago.
Here comes the actual part! You will be asked to sit and someone will be moving the waiting people forward. When your turn comes (which took 45 minutes for me), you will enter the actual building, stand in line again and get a token after the desk staff verify your name and information in the system. Your passport will be affixed with a bar code for the Jamaica consulate at the rear, your 797 will be stapled to the passport, and a token number will be stapled to the appointment confirmation print out. Go inside, get seated, wait for 40 minutes again and then you will be called for finger prints.
After the finger prints are done you will come out of the building and wait in the opposite row of chairs outside the actual building in the corridor (kinda) and wait again.
When your turn comes, you enter the building again and stand in the line waiting to be called for an interview. That is when the interview happened, FINALLY.

Passport Pick up

I appeared for the interview on a Monday and I was asked to pick up my passport on the Wednesday (Sep 11, 2013 – Hope the souls RIP for what has happened 12 years ago). Went to the consulate again at 2 PM, and saw no line, sighs! Went through the security and entered the building. You will go to the open window where they are giving passports. Gave the red stub, the VO gave me and my passport was returned. Thank You!!!
Since I cancelled my full fare ticket I bought tickets for the following day and came back to Boston.

Conclusion

My explanation looks exhaustive, but the experience was more exhaustive and tiresome. On the interview day, I stepped out of the Taxi at 8:30 AM and walked out of the last gate at 12:15 PM. That is almost a 4 hour window you will have to keep moving, waiting, waiting and then go to the interview. The life saver part is they have a refreshment stand in the waiting area inside the consulate where you can get some drinks and food.

I would sincerely like to thank the writer on putting up his/her experience in a very precise manner. If you have any posts or articles you want to share with your fellow H1BWiki visitors, please write us at [email protected]

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