Hello all,

I was referred to this website so I am a bit new. Just wanted to say hello. I'm a bit overwhelmed by this site so I may need a bit of help navigating it.

There seems to be a community of folks out there in a relationship with someone from Jamaica, and I figured that is you all on the "Yardie" posts. Am I right. Is there a forum just for Yardies or do you just look out for a thread with this in the subject line?

I guess I am just wondering how I jump in with you guys.

Thanks!

Hi Welcome to VJ!

Yes there is a certain thread where most of the yardies post. It is in this same regional section where you posted but it is a thread pinned at the top of all the other posts. It is the thread with like 297 pages...here is link to the latest page LINK Some people post seperate topics but most of us just post in the Yardies topic. Whatever one you are comfortable with is fine.

What type of visa are you trying to get? How far along in the process are you?

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need...we are all glad to help out.

Much Love,
Jamie

Welcome to VJ!!

Welcome

Hello Jamie! Thanks for that info. I'll have to sit down with this website when I get home from work so I can really focus on everything.

Currently I am not applying for any visas because we are still trying to figure this whole "him in JA me in the US" out. I would love to initially just get him a visitors visa. Seeing how he has never been to the US before and all. Maybe he will hate it here or love it I dont know. I hear that visitors visa are hard for Jamaicans to come by, so I guess i can only try.

Any advice from you guys out there would be welcomed.

I believe the fee is $100 per application plus whatever other expenses you incur to get evidence and other documentation. Kingston is very picky and doesn't give away visitors visas very easy (you know that). I personally know an older woman who has applied 4 times and shown proof of ties to the country such as...job for last 8 years, savings acct, land, car and family but she was still denied all 4 times due to being a "flight risk". Not saying that it is impossible but it sure isn't easy.

I would definitely read up on the information on this website and the Kingston embassy site and get as much documentation as you possibly can that he will not be staying in the US and he has reason to return to JA. He will need his passport and will have to attend an interview at the embassy. I think that any mention of having a fiance/girlfriend in the US would limit his chances even more. Any mention of it would be grounds for denial due to immigrant intent.

If you were to go the K1 fiance visa route he would be able to be here for 90 days before having to get married. Not as long as most would like but it is a good time for you both to feel out the situation and for him to decide if he would be able to live in the US.

Hope that helped you out a bit,

Jamie

Wow! Great info Jamie! So it seems that a fiance visa seems easier to come by rather than a visitor visa. Yeah I figured it would be hard for him to get one. Plus I know he doesnt have much in the way of "proof" that he wont be a flight risk. He however, does have an American birth father, but he died years ago. I wonder if mentioning that he wants to visit his birth family would be a good or bad thing.

Welcome to VJ!! Yes that will help. I was able to help my Grandmother obtain a visitor visa and she was approved. I sent her my bank statement along w/an invitation letter and my employer letter stating how long I've been with the company and what my pay was. Not sure if her age had anything to do w/it but she was granted a 10 yr visa to visit on occasions.

Hi Marlita!!!

Welcome to VJ! I was going to refer you to this site a while back. But I didn't think you weren't looking to do the K-1 visa.
But I am glad you have joined us, you will find a lot of helpful info here and the people here are very friendly.
I bet you got your referral from the same person I did on the TA website. I thank her 1000 times over for leading me here. Being able to talk with people who are going thru the same process has been a great help for me. Whatever type of visa you are going to apply for.... You have come to the right place for info.

Any questions you have, ask away you will be answered and recieve plenty of support
Welcome to the Yardie Family

To be honest, would probably be a BAD thing. If you have 'ties' in the US, they often feel that it increases the risk of you going there and remaining in the country.
The only way he'd get a visitors visa is if he had a good job, assets such as a car or a house, money in the bank. And then to be honest that STILL won't guarantee anything.
One avenue you might want to look at is his father's American citizenship, if his father lived in the US, it might be possible for him to claim citizenship through him even though he's deceased.
Otherwise the only other way of spending time is for you to go there as often as you can.
If you apply for a fiance visa, you don't HAVE to get married, he could come and visit, if you think it's too soon, he could go back to Jamaica and you could reapply if you needed to.

Marlita, welcome. I wish you luck in your decision. I truly felt the K-1 was what me & sweetie wanted & needed to do quickly. We are close to the end, so I am praying this was the correct avenue. Good luck to you & Welcome.

Welcome to VJ....good luck on your journey ....

Welcome to VJ!!!

Well I've missed a few days. Still trying to get a handle on this forum. Its a bit hard to navigate for me right now. Thanks so much everyone for all the welcomes and great information.

AlienUK, I have never heard of this....getting citizenship if one parent is American. Do you know where I can look into more info for this?

Well it sounds like this visitor Visa is very hard to come by. I am wondering if I should just apply for the Fiance visa just to help the chances of him getting a visit to the States. What is the current average wait for obtaining one through the state of CA?

I googled it and got this....http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-citizenship-naturalization/immigration-citizenship-naturalization-did-you-know(1).html

The wait time varies... They say the average is about 8 months, but it depends I've seen some get approved in less time as well as some taking longer.

Welcome!

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome Marlita!!

Sonshyne,

Wow 8 months! Thats a long time! Now I see why everyone in this situation starts looking into getting the visa so early.

Alien, I will definitely look into that American parent thing.

this is a dumb question... what does yardies mean?

Yardies is referred to Jamaicans as Americans is referred as Yankees.

ahhh thank you!

do they call americans from the southern states yankees?

Yea everyone.

that's against the law in some southern states, ya know?

Those southern states are always behind in the times!

I'm also new to VJ and have been all over the place. kimmy the pro was trying to guide me to this thread( am i a slow learner or what) thanks much kimmy lol!!!! This "yardie" thread is fabulous, you guys talk about everything.

The PRO..yea right.. I have learned from the best..i tell yah..Welcome again..finally made it huh

You've already received a warm welcome ages ago, so I just wanted to say I really enjoyed your blog! Lost in Translation is really funny. I know how you feel. LOL

Good luck with your visajourney and keep writing!

Hey Elizabeth,

Yeah I been on VJ for almost a year coming up in a few months here, but I just put my petition in last week. Glad I was told about Vj though cause I' am learning alot...amybe too much sometimes.

Glad you enjoy the blog. Yeah the falseeness had me going through it!!

Welcome to VJ Lita! (hehehehe)

Blessed,
Gill

Can yuh tell I'm feeling silly dis mawning?...lacka sleep will duh dat tuh yuh!

Lawd gyal! Yuh bring hup sum old tings dem. Mi see duh thread and wandah who reply so late. Ha Ha

Yeah I'm bored at home too on a Saturday night once again. Had some real good retail therapy today. You know they say it relieves the stress....and after Jawis thread dem mi haffi ole heap of STRESS!!!