Jamaica stamping process - details

Effective October 31, 2014, Embassy Kingston does not accept interview applications from third country nationals

• Effective October 31, 2014:
   Third Country Nationals 
  If you have no long term status in Jamaica (e.g. you are a visitor and not an immigrant, refugee, student, or worker in Jamaica), the best place to apply for a visa is in your home country. It is a misconception  to believe that applying for a visa in Jamaica will be simpler or easier than applying in your home country. 
  Effective October 31, 2014, Embassy Kingston does not accept interview applications from third country nationals for the following visa categories and cases:
  • Applicants who changed status with Department of Homeland Security in the U.S. seeking a new visa in the new visa category.  
  • Applicants who entered the U.S. in one visa category and are seeking to re-enter the U.S. in a different visa category. 
  • Applicants who have been out of status in the U.S. having violated the terms of their visas or having overstayed the validity indicated on their I-94s. 
  • Applicants who obtained their current visa in a country other than that of their legal residence. 
  • Petition-based first time applicants.
  • Third country nationals who are not resident in Jamaica and who are applying for a B1/B2 visa (including B1/B2 renewals). 

  Cayman Applicants

Source: http://kingston.usembassy.gov/applicants-outside.html

DS- 160 form filling:

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

• select country where you want to attend the interview(in our case its jamaica)
• click on start application
• Unique application id is generated and it should look something like this AA003***** (10 digits). Please save that number, as its important for scheduling interview and it relates your DS-160 to the interview and also used for logon back to DS-160 form.
• Provide security question to log in back to DS-160
• At this point, you have barcode number i.e application number which is enough for scheduling the appointment. Rest of the DS160 form can be filled later on using bar code number and security question(go to above link and click on retrieve an application). DS160 should be completed and submitted, 3 days before the interview.
• Guide line on how to full the DS-160
•  http://www.immihelp.com/visas/ds-160-form/upload-photo-preparer-application.html#upload-photo

Jamaica interview schedule:

https://usvisa-info.com/en-jm/selfservice/ss_country_welcome

• Create an account if you haven't already the created.
• Give required info and click on create - now the account is created.
• Click on schedule appointment - non immiration visas - all others - petition based temporary work -h1b submit
• Primary application data entry - in this page, we give ds160 confirmation number or barcode number and then submit. In the next step provide "Pick up at courier location" and DHL Head office -19 **[though we pick up passport at embassy, we should providing some data to go further or system will through error]
• Provide i797 details 
• Pay the visa application (MRV) fee for each applicant. Click Fee Payment Options to view more details about the MRV fees and payment procedures[20900.00 JMD - all major visa cards are accepted with nominal international fee]
• Select the date and schedule.
• if you want to reschedule or cancel the appointment or if you want to attach new ds160, Log in back
• Once you enter into application summary. you can see 4 sections
• Applicant Information
• it has name, passport number, MRV fee Receipt number and etc. Click on edit to edit phone number, email address and DS-160 confirmation number.
• Appointment Information
• shows appointment schedule date and time
• Courier Information
• courier info.
• What would you like to do?
• Schedule appointment

Do we need to schedule an separate appointment for fingerprinting?
No. Fingerprinting will be on the same day of interview. Interview is preceded by fingerprinting.
Do we need Visit Jamaica visit visa?

No, indians doent need visit visa, as india and west indies are common wealth countries. Visit visa is provided on arrival at port of entry and it can be from 15 - 45 days, normally 30 days.

Nearest Airport:

Norman Manley International Airport

Code: KIN

Do we need to carry Jamaican dollars?
Not mandatory, US dollars are accepted. Thought most  of the merchants accepts major credit card[international fee are applicable], always try to carry cash.

How many times do i need to go to embassy?
Two time - one time, for giving interview and second time, for collecting passport with stamping. 
Fingerprinting will be done on the interview day itself.

Motel:

http://www.theliguaneaclub.com/

Indian restaurant:

Indian restaurant near to liguanea club. Around 15 min walk.

Tamarind

11 Holborn Rd

Kingston

Jamaica

Jamaica customs:

• We can expect common question why jamaica? Say - Visit and have appointment.
• How long are you going to stay?  1 week.
• Have i797, passport and return ticket handy, Customs officer may ask for this docs.
• Visa will be issued(visa is stamped on the passport) and  will look like this.
  
• Don’t  carry things worth above than 500$ USD or you will end up paying customs fee.

Transportation :

• Once you collect your baggage come out of the airport and take authorized taxi to reach your destination.Its about 30 min drive from airport to liguane (li-gani) club[i had hard time pronouncing the motel name on the first day] and will charge 35-40$ USD. During your drive to liguane motel you will be crossing sabina park.
• From motel to embassy - its about 5-10 min drive and will charge 5$ USD(one way)
• 

On the interview day:

• Dont carry cell phone or any other devices. only documents and wallet are allowed. if you forget, to leave electronic device at home, no problem, there are people across the street, outside the embassy who carries belonging for a charge of 5$ USD
• No particular dress code but wear formals or semi formals
• Carry motel business card, as you are going to provide this info during the process, just in case if embassy wants to contact you.
• Keep i797, Appointment confirmation, passport and photo handy before entering embassy.
• After interview, if your visa is approved, you will be given red slip. Save that red slip as it is the key to enter the embassy again(without passport,Appointment confirmation and passport) to collect your passport.

 

Sightseeing:

Checklist (all documents are not mandatory)

1. Passport and Passport copies of all pages 

2. I-797 – Original 

3. DS-160 confirmation page (Barcode printout) 

4. Original interview appointment letter 

5. I-129 &H1B cover letter 

6. Copy of LCA 

7. Pay stubs for the last 2 years 

8. Employer letter/ Employment Verification Letter 

9. Client Letter – Make sure Client mention Petitioner’s name in the Letter 

10. Vendor letter 

11. Employer agreement / Employment contract letter signed by you and Employer Company (Original) / 

Contract between candidate and petitioner 

12. Experience letter 

13. Project documents 

14. Organization Structure 

15. Employer Tax returns 3 years and financial statements 

16. Quarterly unemployment wage reports for last 6 quarters and Employers list (Org chart) 

17. Notarized list of all employees from my company at the listed job site with specified information about each employee 

18. H1B data collection and filing fee exemption supplement 

19. H classification supplement to form I129 

20. H1B visa petition and supporting docs filed with USCIS 

21. SOW (Vendor - Client) / Contract between vendor and client – IF Possible 

22. Work Orders / Purchase order (Employer - Vendor) 

23. Contract between petitioner and vendor 

24. Proof of payment 

25. Letters verifying your employment history and specific work skills (promotion/ appreciation/project 

certification letters) (if available/applicable) 

26. W2’s and Tax Returns (for the entire period of your stay in USA) 

27. Bank statements for last 2 years highlighting Direct deposits  

28. Previous I-797A and LCA (If any) 

29. Updated Resume 

30. I 20's (All Original) 

31. OPT Cards 

32. Work location pictures 

33. Client ID/Badge, Employer ID/Badge 

34. Timesheets 

35. Client location photos (optional) 

36. Two passport size photographs as per specification 

37. Work Experience Certificates, reference letters, appreciation certificates from previous employer/s (from the start of your career) 

38. All Original Academic Credentials along with mark sheets(MS, BTECH, INTER, 10th) 

39. SSN card 

40. Drivers license 

41. A detail report on the project that you will work on at client including the technical details, timeline, current 

Sample VISA Interview Questions:

MASTERS Questions:

• Did you do your master's in United States? / Did you study in US? 

• How long u been in states? 

• What is your highest degree? 

• What was your major? 

• Where did you do your Masters? / Which university? 

• When did you complete your MS? / When did you graduate? 

• Can I see your MS certificate? 

• Any Specific/ specialization courses u did in MS?

OPT Questions:

• What did you do after your Master's or Graduation? 

• Where did you start working? / To which company did you start working? 

• Which companies you worked for prior to the current employer company? 

• Was your role in your previous job was xxxxx? 

• Who have been your employers since you graduated? 

• For which company did you work in the past? 

• What were you doing before you were with your employer?

H1B Questions:

• How long you been working in United States? 

• Is this your first H-1b? 

• Since how long have you been on H1? 

• From which place did you come to Canada? / Where did you come from? 

• Where you on different project than the project when your petitioner filed

you H-1B?

• Are you applying for the same company or other? 

• What visa were you in USA before? 

for H1B stamping

PERSONAL:

• Where do you live? / Where do you stay? 

• Are you married? 

• Do you have any arrested history or did any law enforcement officials 

contacted you? 

• When you last visited India? 

• Have you ever been out of the country? 

• What is your location right now?

EMPLOYER Questions:

• Are you working with XXXX company ? / Who is your employer? / Whom do 

Ans: Employer

Few More....

1. Who supervises your daily work? 

 My employer [Optional: I have a weekly status call with my employer] 

2. How do you communicate your employer as you are working at client location? 

 Telephonic and Video conference calls 

3. Who provides you infrastructure for your work 

Infrastructure will be provided by Client, since I'm working at client location 

[Optional: To setup Client environment prototypes/designs will be provided by 

Employer] 

4. Manager name  

5. Who has the authority to fire you? 

 My Employer 

6. How do you report to your employer? 

Weekly over telephonic calls/Video conference calls 

7. Do you visit your employer often? 

Not really, since we will be in sync with weekly status calls [Optional: Definitely will 

visit if needed] 

8. Whom do you report to at the clients place? 

My work status report will be given to my employer who is not onsite, however I do 

interact with client's manager if needs any project req's. 

[Optional: We have weekly meetings with my employer to give work status. My 

employer have the whole authority to coordinate, supervise, direct and advice me. 

If there are any Client's project requirement changes, will be updated to Vendor and 

Vendor will update to my Employer and then my employer will update me with the new 

changes] 

9. What is your Designation?  

10. Is this renewal?  

11. With same company? 

12. What do you do for your project? 

I will be working on design/development, testing, and implementation of various client-

servers, web-based software application systems. 

13. Are there any challenges that you are facing in your project? 

So far I haven't any 

14. Tell me 2-3 names of your colleague working in team.  

15. Explain about your company? 

16. How did you apply for this job? 

After my graduation I have uploaded my resume to all well known Job portals and my 

employer picked my resume which suites for one of the Pegays PR and went thru all 

interviews 

17. How big is your company? 

18. What is your role? 

Mention roles that are given in h1b petition. 

19. Do you know your rights on H1B with your employer? 

Yes, I do know 

20. Since how long you are working for this company?  

21. Who is the end client? 

22. Is there any vendor in between? 

23. Are you ever on bench?  

24. Did you have master's degree? Where and major? 

25. Seems you are working in IT field, how do you correlate to your Major EE? 

Though my Major is EE, I do have done computer programming courses in my masters 

and undergrad. So I do have background in both fields. 

26. Have your company started GC processing?  

27. Did you change to any other company during this period? 

28. What is the client address (make sure it matches your LCA)? 

29. Who assign you work?  

30. How often do your contract renew?  

31. Who are all involved during renewal?  

32. Do your company manager and client manager speak during renewal also would you be 

involved? 

33. What is your annual salary? 

34. Is this what a person with your qualification deserves? 

35. Why did you come to Jamaica? 

Came here for the holiday visit and same time wanted renew my H1 B stamp, since it is 

expired 

36. Why can’t you go to your home country (India)? 

I don’t have any plans to visit my home country soon due to my busy work schedule

 don’t think I would get a longer vacation

 37. What do you do if it is rejected here?

I know I have to go back home country and reapply. But I hope I will not, since I have 

been following all H1 B polices and been continuously working through out h1 period, 

never been out of status 

38. Where did u stay? 

BEST OF LUCK