eric_drewry

YOU GUYS!!! MARCH 13TH IS OUR INTERVIEW DATE!! I got through after the phone ringing for 13 minutes. Yall hang in there they will eventually patch you through. I was hoping for Feb, but will take what I can get. Good luck.

Congrads Texas Now it's time for last minute preperations

MANY Congrad Texas: I guess you were the one that kept the phone line busy today!! I couldnt get through AGAIN! I am so glad that someone got through and got an answer!!!It doesnt ring at all for me, its either busy or keeps disconnecting me :blink:

Question: I found my the date on my I-797 (thanks everyone) but doesnt that date only apply to when you get your paperwork in? I received my NVC letter with case # after that form? I cant get an answer about this date. I am sooo confused.

Congrats Texas,

But I think it was me keeping the line busy. I have never ran across such an incompetent group of people in my life. I managed to get through, and the first person that looks at the file asks me if I know why she was denied. I answer yes. She says it takes 3 years before the case can be reevaluated. I say I know, she was delcine previously and the 3 years are now up. She was declided on a K3 on Jan 7th 2004. She says hold on... 7 minutes later dial tone.

I manage to get through again, explain to the next idiot where I left off with the last. Hold on she says... 5 minutes later dial tone

I manage to get through again, explain to the next idiot where I left off with the last. Hold on she says I need to find the previous file let me get your email address... 6 minutes later dial tone

I manage to get through again, I start to explain to the next idiot where I left off with the last. Yes we've spoke she says hold on. 1 minute later dial tone.

I manage to get through again, explain to the next idiot where I left off with the last. Yes you spoke with a supervisor earlier, we have to investigate the case.

15 minutes ago I emailed them all the investigation they should need, the form that they provided during the April interview stating my wife's case will received furthur consideration after January 8th 2007. Of course I wonder if the idiots in Kingston will know how to open a PDF file.

Another question!!

As you can tell I am having THOUGHTS running through my head

Is there anyone on this board who is American and moved to Jamaica to be with there SO? I'm contemplating it - I thought about filing bankruptcy and running away from this place I call MY COUNTRY - Why are they so strict? Some people can walk across the boarder but the man I love can't get here before jumping over hurdles.

Sorry, not trying to offend anyone, just venting!

Hi,

Yes, I have twice, several years ago. Depending on the area you live in there might be quite an adjustment. I was in Negril both times and was quite bored the adjustment of not having American things ie, movieplex, 24 hour services, washer & dryers, friends, book stores, malls, was not too bad.

Hello,

I am newly married to a wonderful man that I met in Jamaica.We are very much in love and passionate about being together. This feels like forever!

I think about moving there often. My husband lives in the country, its nice and easy and slow. I have a 21 month old son who I think would have a lot of fun there. But what do I do for money?? We have been married two months and my phone bills was 2x the rent! its crazy! I miss him like crazy though so when your ready let me know!

Welcome to the yardies and VJ Mrs. Forrester. How is your visa process going? All the best with the K-3 or CR-1 visa !

I've lived in JA he majority of the last 3 years, due to Visa problems. It's not something I would reccommend. You will have to deal with JA immigration and work permit waivers. Formalities mostly, don't expect any problems there. I actually avoided that by claiming citizenship. Mom is from JA. Salaries are extremely low by US standards. Cost of living is much higher to live at US standards.

Here is the big drawback, if you later want to bring your SO to the US, you will have no acceptable income for the Affidavit of Support. I work for a US company with an office in JA, so I've been able to come and go fairly regularly.

Wait it out. Make sure him na smoke ganja. If he does he needs to stop now and lie. Other drugs can be a problem too, but this is the Kingston embassys favorite way to keep Jamaicans in Jamaica.

Try to have him get a home phone, prepaid cost next to nothing. Hopefully next month there will be a way for you to get an internet phone at home with a JA phone number.

Good luck.

I forgot to tell everyone this but if you have a CVS in your area they have Sprint International phone cards on sale, buy one get one free. So if you buy one for $20 you will get another $20 card free. Good deal. And if you recharge it at the store you get 10% more time added.

I got only about 16 minutes on a $10 sprint card from CVS. I get 39 Minutes for a $10 (AT&T International Card at WalMart) Digicel

Check out www.sendtoglobal.com I believe the costs are about the same as AT&T, but much easier to use.

Still waiting on www.flowjamaica.com to come out with their Vonage type line with a Jamaica phone number. $0.15 to Digicel Free to MiPhones. I expect this to be available next month.

i would like to be sure that it actually takes about two months to get an interview for a CR-1 visa in jamaica because i gave up a job oppurtunity just yesterday. i need to be sure.

Honestly I'd say since they moved last month nothing is as it used to be. I don't think anyone has any current info.

I sent 2 e-mails, one on 12-29-06 and another on 2-2-07 and still haven't gotten any response I also think that they are trying to discourage people from trying to gets visas!! This is so crazy. They don't respond to your e-mails... and good luck getting someone on the phone the only two days they take calls.

I'm going back to JA Friday, and plan to go to the embassy on Wednesday before I fly back. I have business in Mobay which will be completed on Tuesday. I fly back to the US on Wednesday out of Kingston. It comes in handy working for a company with an office in Jamaica.

Still no word. I have no patience left for these people. I now have my Senator's Office harrasing them today.

I did the same thing getting antsy early on. But stopped pursuing it. Im in between right now, I worry about retaliation. I feel like when I finally get there they are going to be like oh thats the one from Texas!!! Ha. Theyve been checking my emails today but of course there isnt a response back. I get email confirmations back.

I've gotten beyond worrying about what they think. I may show up there myself Monday morning, as it looks like I may be flying down for business Friday.

Still no word. I have no patience left for these people. I now have my Senator's Office harrasing them today.

Who knew? Maybe that will help the mail get delivered faster.

I wouldn't count on it. There are actually some places in JA where they deliver mail. When I was living in Portmore I actually had mail delivered.

At our office in Mobay the electric bill usually comes in a day after it is due, if at all.

FedEx is prety reliable to JA, we've used them for years, costly though. I usually include the things I want to send the wife in a package going to the office, and she picks it up there.

As far as the address, believe what they say. If there is a real address it won't make sense. My last address was

Lot 428

Phase 2

Bogue Village

Montego Bay JA WI

But I lived on a street called Pearl Place.

OK LADIES NOW I'M GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH THE EMBASSY!!! I CALLED ON TUESDAY TO SEE IF MY FILE HAD REACHED THEM.... AND WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK ON FRIDAY BETWEEN 1:30 - 3:30. SO TODAY I STARTED CALLING AT 1:30 (THEIR TIME) NEVER GOT A LIVE ANSWER UNTIL 3:05 AND WAS THEN TOLD THAT EVERYONE WAS GONE HOME AND TO CALL BACK ON WEDSNESDAY THEY ONLY TAKE CALLS ON CERTAIN DAYS THEN GO HOME EARLY!!!! SO I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO GET AN ANSWER FROM SOMEONE, THAT IS IF THEY ANSWER THE PHONES BEFORE DECIDING TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY

Sonshyne, anything new?

I finally got a hold of someone on 1-3-07 and was told my case was received on 12-22 and packet #3 was mailed out on the 29th. I had my fiancee go to the post office on 1-6.... Of course.... It wasn't there I'm going to mail off the DS230 myself directly to them.

It seems obvious to me that all these changes have been made intentionally to slow down the process.

Their website explaining the changes has much to be desired. From what I was able to find on the website, and what they gave my wife when they wouldn't let her in to reopen her case, to go to the informtion window you must now request an appointment via an email to KingstonIVInfo@state.gov Though of course nobody anwsers the email.

How many Jamaican's have access to email, or know how to use it. (this is not a slur on Jamaicans) The embassy has obviously lost sight of its purpose.

Sorry I bailed out again. Too many happy people here for my situation. I spent the majority of the 8 months in Jamaica with my wife. I'm about ready to try for the third time, if I can ever get past the madness in Kingston. My wife's 3 years is up. This time it should only be fresh photos and another interview, if we can ever get ahold of someone to reopen the case.

Welcome back stranger We're not always THAT happy on here What happened when you appealed your case? There have been more people on here to get denied for the same reason as you guys who are wondering what their options are. I'm glad her 3 year ban is now up - good luck with the interview. Please keep us posted.

I never filed the I-690, though when I went in for my wife's IR1 interview, and they brought up the 3 year bar, expecting the issue I pulled out a completed I-690, the shocked interviewer took the form and went to talk to people and can back 20 minutes later saying they do not accept this form there. That being the case, I believed that I could eventually file it, then of course be denied on it and have to file an administerative appeal. Since at that time I was only 9 months away from the end of the 3 year bar, I determined that since the government moves so slow, especially there the amount of time gained by following that route would be minimal if even successful.

Has anyone had to renew their Jamaican passport since they have been in the states? Roy's doesn't expire for a year (I'm a freak, I know )

Oh boy Mindy - you have me freaking out now I have NO idea when Tony's passport expires and we're leaving for Barbados in less than 2 weeks!!! What do we do if it's expired??? How long are they good for from the time you get them? Isn't it 10 years? If it is (like our U.S. ones are) he has plenty of time left on it. He just got it right before we started the Visa process.

Jamaican passports are good for 10 years, at least those issued in the last 4 years (Machine readable). You used to be able to renew them at some consulates here in the US, (Chicago for example) Though I heard somewhere that had been discontinued. I don't remember the source of that information so I would still enquire.

As far as name changes on Jamaican passports, I believe they did ammend the passports before the machine readable passports. The form was still available online in 2004. When I got my Jamaican passport I enquired about updating my wife's. They said they did not do that anymore.

I was informed by the US embassy in June when getting a copy of my wife's passport noterized so my wife could get an ITIN and I could refile my last 3 years of taxes that they do reissue a new passport under the new name. You must apply for a new passport. This is according to the US government.

Sorry I bailed out again. Too many happy people here for my situation. I spent the majority of the 8 months in Jamaica with my wife. I'm about ready to try for the third time, if I can ever get past the madness in Kingston. My wife's 3 years is up. This time it should only be fresh photos and another interview, if we can ever get ahold of someone to reopen the case.

I have some interesting information for those who have high phone bills calling Jamaica. Check out http://www.flowjamaica.com I have spoken with their office and they will have a VOIP phone available that we can get for use in the US, that would have a Jamaica phone number. This would also include free calls to/from MiPhone Cell phones. Of course we are still looking at $0.15 cents a minute to a digicel phone, but landline phones cost will be equivilent to normal land line to land line costs in JA.

I was told this would become available next month.

It's good to be back in the US again, hopefully other than the interview it will be close to permanant.

I am debating on booking Adrians flight now or waiting...I know if I wait then it will be way more expensive... I am thinking about just taking a risk and go ahead and book his flight for May 18th

Joanna -- what would be the reason for waiting to book his flight....are you/were you planning to not book him until you went through the interview? The longer you wait the more expensive it will probably be....

I booked ahead the last time. Big waste of money for me.

Last night my daughter had baby boy, now that it looks like my experience with Immigration is just about over (please, please), I need to get my daughter moving on her's her husband is from Brazil, on some kind of work visa.

It never end's, by the time her's is done, I'll probably be helping the wife on her fathers or someone... It's really never going to end...

Congrats Granddaddy . Is this your first grand. With so much immigration experience maybe you could turn it into a business. Just thinking, with you having a child in the future, your grandchild will be older than his uncle/aunt

Thanks, This is my third grandchild, first grandson. My granddaughters are 6 years old, one from each of my daughters.

Congrats on the grandson!!!

Good luck tomorrow! I'm so anxious to hear the outcome! More than you know!!!!!!

I understand, When the I-130 was approved in Nov 2004, I was living in JA, It was December or January when I actually found out it had been approved. I spoke with the embassy then, and they said I could proceed with it, at that point it had only been a year since the denial. Of course I had to return to the US and establish myself again before proceeding. We shall see. It's been long enough...

Thanks for the info Eric. Can you tell me...did your wife have to do or complete anything differently during the medical exam this time around? Or was it just like the previous? Did they ask her anything differently?

Nothing different at the medical this time around. We did have a private test done just prior to the medical, if the event of some kind of issue, I will have documentation from a lab proving negative for ganga right then and there.

Last night my daughter had baby boy, now that it looks like my experience with Immigration is just about over (please, please), I need to get my daughter moving on her's her husband is from Brazil, on some kind of work visa.

It never end's, by the time her's is done, I'll probably be helping the wife on her fathers or someone... It's really never going to end...

Congrats Granddaddy . Is this your first grand. With so much immigration experience maybe you could turn it into a business. Just thinking, with you having a child in the future, your grandchild will be older than his uncle/aunt

Thanks, This is my third grandchild, first grandson. My granddaughters are 6 years old, one from each of my daughters.

Congrats on the grandson!!!

Good luck tomorrow! I'm so anxious to hear the outcome! More than you know!!!!!!

I understand, When the I-130 was approved in Nov 2004, I was living in JA, It was December or January when I actually found out it had been approved. I spoke with the embassy then, and they said I could proceed with it, at that point it had only been a year since the denial. Of course I had to return to the US and establish myself again before proceeding. We shall see. It's been long enough...

Last night my daughter had baby boy, now that it looks like my experience with Immigration is just about over (please, please), I need to get my daughter moving on her's her husband is from Brazil, on some kind of work visa.

It never end's, by the time her's is done, I'll probably be helping the wife on her fathers or someone... It's really never going to end...

Congrats Granddaddy . Is this your first grand. With so much immigration experience maybe you could turn it into a business. Just thinking, with you having a child in the future, your grandchild will be older than his uncle/aunt

Thanks, This is my third grandchild, first grandson. My granddaughters are 6 years old, one from each of my daughters.

Last night my daughter had baby boy, now that it looks like my experience with Immigration is just about over (please, please), I need to get my daughter moving on her's her husband is from Brazil, on some kind of work visa.

It never end's, by the time her's is done, I'll probably be helping the wife on her fathers or someone... It's really never going to end...

What exactly are your options? Do you know?[/color]

Not sure the Embassy replied to my email this moring saying that Tonika(gaurdian) should go to the info window mon to fri between 7:15 to 10Am, to pick up information on DNA testing. Why couldn't they just include the infromation in the email? There is no way that The mother will be able to all the way to the Embassy to pick up information I'm sure that this DNA test will cost well over 1000$ by the way It will be well worth it if results come to find that she is turely his. It dosen't matter to David, in his heart she is his, but if not it is going to be heartbreaking to his daughter, knowing that her mother has lied to her all these years, and that she had a chance at better oppertunites, that her mother blew it all when she cheated on her father Our dealings with the embassy are far from being over

Medical costs are usually much lower here in JA, I'll be coming back for a Vasectomy reversal at some point. $1500.00 as opposed to $6000-$7000 in the US. All estimates in UD dollars.

Robert - Congrats

Squito - Are you sure you are not dealing with the Jamaican Government... They will get it right eventually.

jkb919 - God they are making you wait... ouch.

tenika - Good luck...

3 more sleepless nights...

Hello all from Sunny JA. We went to the embassy this morning, and picked up the appointment packet. Got a Medical appontment for the 31st. Of course the packet mentions payment for the Immigrant Visa which was already made to the NVC as well as the Affidavit of support that was also submitted to the NVC. I guess it will all work out.

Hello Everyone

Happy MONDAY MORNING!!

I have good and bad news. GOOD NEWS. Rohan picked up his paket 4 today . I scheduled his medical they said the earliest is April 6, but his interview is April 13, is than enough time? hmmm

Bad News

Rohan was trying to earn some extra money (to help with the expenses) by doing some painting at church. He fell off a ladder and broke his left hand . My baby is in sooo much pain. The thing with the hospital is that if you dont have the money they wont treat u. So he went to the hospintal for 1000 they gave him an injection 2000 more thosand just to register him, then they said his hand is broke and SENT HIM HOME , and said if you want to see the bone specialist come back Thurdsay and it will be 20,000. He is in PAIN, how can u send someone home with a broken bone, is beyond me. . Not just that look at that kind of money we already were short of money and I have no support to help me financaily with all the expenses. I just found out 335 US for Visa form 100us to paymaster 200 for physical and this does not touch his plane ticket. hugggghhhh. Well what to do. Please pray for Rohan to get well soon

THANKS

I do not believe you have to pay the $335 for the K-3, that is for the CR-1. You just have to pay it later when you file AOS. They make sure they get you one way or another.

Hi Eric, thanks for your reply. this is for the CR1 and they told him he could not apply again until 2009. he said the gave him a letter about how to appeal. i dont understand how does the waiver work? i am planning on going down in a couple of weeks. so i would like to see what i can do on this end first before i leave. will the waiver help him to come. thanks

I find the fact they gave him a letter explaining how to appeal promising, I think the first step is finding out what the letter says. Back in 2004 there was no options.

The waiver should help, unless there is some kind of time period you must appeal in, I'd make sure he was clean before proceeding.

I did hear of a couple with Jamaican government connections getting past this last year, I don't know the details.

Of course that's another card in my deck. A good friend of mine is a longtime friend of the PM elect in JA. I'm going to try to attend the inauguration.

i think they give him time for the appeal is my understanding. would i have to file another I130 too. this is costly for all these filings. yea, its good to know people alright. I wish you well on your interview. its very hard being separated. we have already done that you know. but he would have to have it out of his system before going to deal with the doctor again. that is true. ok i will let him know what you told me. peace

You should not have to file again to appeal.

Hi Eric, thanks for your reply. this is for the CR1 and they told him he could not apply again until 2009. he said the gave him a letter about how to appeal. i dont understand how does the waiver work? i am planning on going down in a couple of weeks. so i would like to see what i can do on this end first before i leave. will the waiver help him to come. thanks

I find the fact they gave him a letter explaining how to appeal promising, I think the first step is finding out what the letter says. Back in 2004 there was no options.

The waiver should help, unless there is some kind of time period you must appeal in, I'd make sure he was clean before proceeding.

I did hear of a couple with Jamaican government connections getting past this last year, I don't know the details.

Of course that's another card in my deck. A good friend of mine is a longtime friend of the PM elect in JA. I'm going to try to attend the inauguration.

hey people, i posted this over again. i thought i would be coming back on here with some good news. but im not, my husband failed because the blood test found weed in his system. so i have no idea what is next. and thats were things are right now. im still in disbelief after all this time. ok later. thanks for asking anyway..what advice do you have on this?

Did they tell him anything about a 3 year ban, that used to be the policy, and could be still. Back in 2004 there was no waiver available. So things have changed somewhat. Check back here on the 8th or 9th of April, I I'll have some kind of update. I moved back to JA a couple months after the wifes visa was denied. There was available waiver back then.

I think it would be good if we can get a warning about this issue pinned somewhere on this board, this seems to be the biggest reason for denial of a Visa from Jamaica... Gee I wonder why.

I always wondered how the rasta defense would go. Hey mon it's part of my religion. I always though it was absolutely rediculus, that back then you could get a waiver for HIV, but those devils that smoke Ganga we don't want them in our country. Funny thing is it's now using the same form as HIV.

I'm worried about this myself, this time around as it is before the 3 years are up. I plan on having the completed waiver form with me at the interview just in case.

I wish you luck, and I hope you do not have to deal with the seperation that this caused my wife and I.

hey people, i posted this over again. i thought i would be coming back on here with some good news. but im not, my husband failed because the blood test found weed in his system. so i have no idea what is next. and thats were things are right now. im still in disbelief after all this time. ok later. thanks for asking anyway..what advice do you have on this?

It appears the board went down while I was responding. I suggest the first thing you do is get him cleaned up.

I have a question, is this a K-3 or the CR-1. There is an available waiver now. http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/files/I-690.pdf Though I have never heard of anyone successfully using it. I believe you would be in a better position if this is the K-3, I find the wording very hopeful, to the point it might not even be needed. It states if the attending physician determines that the drug abuse/addiction is in remission you are no longer considered inadmissible.

This could come into play during the physical for the CR-1. This is of course what I am hoping for, see my timeline below.

Proff of seeking medical assistance for the issue would probably be good if there is a short period on time between attempts. Once approved you can sit on the I-130 for a year withough doing anything. But of course you should not have to wait that long.

My wife should have her phyisical this week. I fly down Tuesday. 2nd Interview (IR-1) this time, on the 7th of April. This has dragged on so long she will not have to deal with the Conditional Permanent Residency.