Jayandmars

Oh, for even a "touch".

Sigh.

I will keep waiting patiently.

Thank you, thank you.

Yeah I know,

After lurking under the quiet for over a year, VJ shouldn't even have let me back in! I just wanted to big those who supported us at the beginning of our journey and now that we are almost at the end, to come back in and updaye my timeline so that it can be helpful to others.

On a side note, what a pain it is to call USCIS? Even when you get a live person, they are so regimented that you still feel like you are talking to a machine. Damn!

So what's new?

Mari and Jay.

This is for those that are US/American Citizens...... you may want to check with the Embassy of the country you would be traveling to. You can travel to ANY US (domesitcally) including ...Hawaii, San Juan and Virgin Islands

You will need your passport and greencard to travel up to that point....you can only travel within the US territories.

Your greencard gets you back INTO the US.

The passport advisory that I tacked on at the end was only to serve as a reminder that regardless of the fact that some countries will allow US Permanent Residents to visit without a visa, that they still need to have a passport to travel - in addition to their PR cards. That was the sole purpose...please reread the introductory paragraph in my previous post. I did some extensive reading this morning for my own purposes and thought I would share info. After all, this is what the forums are about.

Peace

Do I need a visa?

Sorry guys...I cut and pasted from WORD and it didnt come out quite right and the information can be mis interpreted. I will post again below:

The following indicates some countries to which US Permanent Residents holding Jamaican Passports can / cannot travel without a visa. All info is subject to change and it is always recommended that you check with the embassy of a specific country before making travel plans.

For US Citizen see : http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochu...hures_1229.html

For US Permanent Resident see :

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...ational_travel_

information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

CANADA NONE REQUIRED

MEXICO NONE REQUIRED

U.K. Visa required for visiting however it is NOT required for

Transiting (connecting within 24hrs).

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?

pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=

Page&cid=1125563625770

ALASKA NONE REQUIRED

COSTA RICA NONE REQUIRED

GUAM NONE REQUIRED

HAWAII NONE REQUIRED

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NONE REQUIRED

NETHERLAND ANTILLES NONE REQUIRED (Dutch Caribbean)

PANAMA NONE REQUIRED Pay $5.00 to Airline for a Tourist Card

PERU NONE REQUIRED

PHILLIPINES NONE REQUIRED

SWITZERLAND NONE REQUIRED

TURKS & CAICOS NONE REQUIRED

US VIRGIN ISLANDS NONE REQUIRED

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS NONE REQUIRED If arriving directly from U.S. mainland

BRAZIL VISA REQUIRED US Citizens must apply for a tourist visa

BELGIUM VISA REQUIRED

CYPRUS VISA REQUIRED

DENMARK VISA REQUIRED

ECUADOR VISA REQUIRED

FRANCE VISA REQUIRED

FRENCH WEST INDIES VISA REQUIRED

GERMANY VISA REQUIRED

GREECE VISA REQUIRED

IRELAND (republic of) VISA REQUIRED

ITALY VISA REQUIRED

JAPAN VISA REQUIRED

LUXEMBOURG VISA REQUIRED

NETHERLANDS VISA REQUIRED

PARAGUAY VISA REQUIRED

PORTUGAL VISA REQUIRED

SPAIN VISA REQUIRED

SWEDEN VISA REQUIRED

THAILAND VISA REQUIRED

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/visa-e/e-doineedvisa.htm

Advisory: Beginning January 23, 2007 passports are required for travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, central and South America, the Caribbean (excluding U.S. territories), and Bermuda.

Do I need a visa?

The following indicates some countries to which US Permanent Residents holding Jamaican Passports can / cannot travel without a visa. All info is subject to change and it is always recommended that you check with the embassy of a specific country before making travel plans.

For US Citizen see : http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochu...hures_1229.html

For US Permanent Resident see :

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...ational_travel_

information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

CANADA NO

MEXICO NO

U.K. YES / NO Visa required for visiting however it is NOT required for

Transit Without Visa (connecting within 24hrs).

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?

pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=

Page&cid=1125563625770

ALASKA NO

COSTA RICA NO

GUAM NO

HAWAII NO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NO

NETHERLAND ANTILLES NO (Dutch Caribbean)

PANAMA NO Pay $5.00 to Airline for a Tourist Card

PERU NO

PHILLIPINES NO

SWITZERLAND NO

TURKS & CAICOS NO

US VIRGIN ISLANDS NO

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS NO If arriving directly from U.S. mainland

BRAZIL YES US Citizens must apply for a tourist visa

BELGIUM YES

CYPRUS YES

DENMARK YES

ECUADOR YES

FRANCE YES

FRENCH WEST INDIES YES

GERMANY YES

GREECE YES

IRELAND (republic of) YES

ITALY YES

JAPAN YES

LUXEMBOURG YES

NETHERLANDS YES

PARAGUAY YES

PORTUGAL YES

SPAIN YES

SWEDEN YES

THAILAND YES http://www.thaiembassy.jp/visa-e/e-doineedvisa.htm

Advisory: Beginning January 23, 2007 passports are required for travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, central and South America, the Caribbean (excluding U.S. territories), and Bermuda. For additional details see the U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative information.

Do I need a visa?

The following indicate some countries to which US Permanent Residents holding Jamaican Passports can / cannot travel without a visa. All info is subject to change and it is always recommended that you check with the embassy of a specific country before making travel plans.

For US Citizen see : http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochu...hures_1229.html

For US Permanent Resident see :

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...ational_travel_

information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

VISA? WEBSITE / INFO

CANADA N

MEXICO N

U.K. Y/N Visa required for visiting however it is NOT required for

Transit Without Visa (connecting within 24hrs).

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?

pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=

Page&cid=1125563625770

ALASKA N

COSTA RICA N

GUAM N

HAWAII N

DOMINICAN REP. N

NETHERLAND AN. N (Dutch Caribbean)

PANAMA N Pay $5.00 to Airline for a Tourist Card

PERU N

PHILLIPINES N

SWITZERLAND N

TURKS & CAICOS N

US VIRGIN ISLES N

BR VIRGIN ISLES N If arriving directly from U.S. mainland

BRAZIL Y US Citizens must apply for a tourist visa

BELGIUM Y

CYPRUS Y

DENMARK Y

ECUADOR Y

FRANCE Y

FRENCH W.I. Y

GERMANY Y

GREECE Y

IRELAND (rep of) Y

ITALY Y

JAPAN Y

LUXEMBOURG Y

NETHERLANDS Y

PARAGUAY Y

PORTUGAL Y

SPAIN Y

SWEDEN Y

THAILAND Y http://www.thaiembassy.jp/visa-e/e-doineedvisa.htm

Advisory: Beginning January 23, 2007 passports are required for travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, central and South America, the Caribbean (excluding U.S. territories), and Bermuda. For additional details see the U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative information.

Do I need a visa?

The following indicate some countries to which US Permanent Residents holding Jamaican Passports can / cannot travel without a visa. All info is subject to change and it is always recommended that you check with the embassy of a specific country before making travel plans.

For US Citizen see : http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochu...hures_1229.html

For US Permanent Resident see :

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...ational_travel_

information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

VISA? WEBSITE / INFO

CANADA N

MEXICO N

U.K. Y/N Visa required for visiting however it is NOT required for

Transit Without Visa (connecting within 24hrs).

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?

pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=

Page&cid=1125563625770

ALASKA N

COSTA RICA N

GUAM N

HAWAII N

DOMINICAN REP. N

NETHERLAND AN. N (Dutch Caribbean)

PANAMA N Pay $5.00 to Airline for a Tourist Card

PERU N

PHILLIPINES N

SWITZERLAND N

TURKS & CAICOS N

US VIRGIN ISLES N

BR VIRGIN ISLES N If arriving directly from U.S. mainland

BRAZIL Y US Citizens must apply for a tourist visa

BELGIUM Y

CYPRUS Y

DENMARK Y

ECUADOR Y

FRANCE Y

FRENCH W.I. Y

GERMANY Y

GREECE Y

IRELAND (rep of) Y

ITALY Y

JAPAN Y

LUXEMBOURG Y

NETHERLANDS Y

PARAGUAY Y

PORTUGAL Y

SPAIN Y

SWEDEN Y

THAILAND Y http://www.thaiembassy.jp/visa-e/e-doineedvisa.htm

Advisory: Beginning January 23, 2007 passports are required for travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, central and South America, the Caribbean (excluding U.S. territories), and Bermuda. For additional details see the U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative information.

Hi guys,

AOS approved (via email) without interview 5/4/07.

Peace!

Hello Yardies,

I just wanted to once again thank every single person who had something to contribute (directly or indirectly) to assist Jay and myself through this process. We started in August and after lurking for a week or so I joined VJ.com. The information and tips I found here have provided immeasurable help and I don't think we could have done it all so smoothly without you guys. We got police records from 3 countries; I got immunized from scratch; and we had our interview and visa within 4 short months! No RFE's or hitches of any kind. I panicked a few times but there was always someone with good advice to help calm my stressed out nerves.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks.

Unfortunately, I think that this forum has outlived it's phase of positiveness and helpfulness (as far as I am concerned) and is now doing more harm than good. While I won't be coming back, I will definitely update my timeline as applicable so as to help those who follow after us.

Congrats to those getting married, getting approvals and getting pregnant! To those going through difficult times - hang in there. A wise lady used to tell me while cooking our dinner on a kerosene stove in our humble little kitchen back in Jamaica "No worry me child. Only God's salvation lasts forever".

One love.

Mars.

Woo hoo! It worked!

Testing

I'm trying to put one of those cute little ticker thingies on my profile...eveidently it's not working. Oh Well.

Testing

Hey Jomo's Girl,

Sorry about your weekend.

Darling, If you can tell me where to get callaloo and saltfish in my neck of the woods (Vermont) I'd be your friend for life.

Come to think of it, anyone knows where I can get callaloo seeds? I'd happliy plant some in my tiny little piece of front yard and piss off the condo association.

...Mars.

Good morning, everyone. So the consensus seems to be that all of the shipping companies are reliable. That's good, because he didn't get the DS230 that I mailed USPS. I have found that USPS is not that reliable on that end. I sent something priority once, it was supposed to get there in about a week, it took more like three.

Good morning, waynegeraldine and welcome.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I believe that they can only deliver the package if the contents are all documents. Once you include non documents, your recipient may have to go claim it from Customs themselves.

Thank GOD that Craig loves ALL the food here. He's NOT picky....if he was, cheeeez to add onto all of the other stuff we've been through !!!!

Damien loves all food here too...not picky at all.

I've tried to be open minded about the food. I even tasted a piece of deer meat. Yuck! But to be honest, I am worried about being in the USA and changing from my relatively healthy diet of fish, chicken and greens to all the cholesterol-laden foods and becoming over-weight and more prone to things like heart disease.

I'm sorry, but a big old slab of medium rare, blood-oozing steak on my plate with eggs for breakfast on a sunday morning is a bit too much. Jay's feelings were hurt but in the end he understood. I miss my callaloo and saltfish with plantain (and or porridge) on a sunday morning.

My husband said it's him or the dog

Why do these men have to make life so difficult? Can he find an apartment nearby?

Oh my gosh. & to think that soon I wont be just a visitor or vacationer, I will be FAMILY!!!! IM SO EXCITED.

I know what you mean. I feel like I'm part Jamaican myself Everyone is jealous when I tell them I'm going to visit my in-laws!

My new father-in-law is an opinionated sweetheart that refuses to retire, drives a school bus and collects cowbells and pennies dated since before my own mother was born. My mother-in-law doesn't say much but bakes some great pies and always has something to wrap up for us to take back home.

Guess I am one of the luckier ones with no real issues with acceptance here.

Does anyone here like (or know) who Gyptian is? I am listening to his song "Beautiful Lady." I know this song has been out for a while, but everytime I hear it, it makes me feel like I am at home (JA, that is.)

"She said oooohhh, and aaaahhhh, she never felt so right. I said yeeesss , oh baby, breathe on me tonight...." Just lovely.

He debuted (I think) with his big hit "Serious Times" which is a tuff song about the crime and socioeconomic situation in Kingston. He has a very interesting voice.

Jeez!

I sign off and go to bed and wake to find that not only has the thread been moved but something akin to Armageddon has taken place. Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

While I am happy that a few disappointed and frustrated posters have a forum where they can vent, I am also happy that we have some mature, analytical and level-headed members to help keep things in perspective and steer us on a more productive (and peaceful) path.

Keep up the good work guys!

Nuff respeck.

If I was the Jamaican fiance and you came to me with a proposal like this............you will get a rather rude crash course in Jamaican patois and it would not sound good.

Why are we able to find humour in the most serious of circumstances? I love this thread.

My wonderful husband found some scotch bonnet peppers for me in in Atlanta and will be bringing them home tonight. He couldn't figure out how to pack them without crushing them so he put them in his sneakers!

Can anybody give me a few pointers on how to steam fish

Season it up 'good good'. Make sure you use some pimento seeds (allspice), escallion and scotch bonnet pepper if you can find it. Add some okra, carrots and other veggies if you like that stuff. Place it all in a pan with butter on a very low heat and a 'tups' of water. Leave it there covered until it looks and smells cooked.

Mail me some when it's done!

Call your local police station and ask them. They're the ones who are going to give you the ticket if it's NOT accepted! So they should know. I would think you could drive on your Jamaican license for a while. (Do NOT call 911! Call the non-emergency number )

Called the local police for the heck of it (and because I really need something to do) and I quote"

"Ma'am, that's a really weird question that no one here can answer for you. Please call the DMV."

What did I tell you? I may as well have come from Mars.

We are each getting $300 to spend. Tony made a face and said "that's it"? Damn ungrateful Jamaican husband

Jay used his to clear up all the bills from making 5 trips to Jamaica last year. What a relief to be temporarily debt free. I was feeling guilty about that...can't wait to start contributing too.