Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.

Step 1: Register your appointment online

You must register your appointment online. That gives us the information we need to return your passport to you after your interview. Registration is free. To register, click the Register button below.

If you want to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you can only do that after you register your appointment.

Register >>

Step 2: Get a medical exam in Jamaica

As soon as you receive your appointment date, schedule your medical exam immediately with the approved hospital in Kingston. Click the Medical Exam Instructions button below for more information about the immigrant visa medical exam.

Please schedule and attend your medical exam at that clinic before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We created a checklist that tells you what to bring. Please print it and bring it to your interview with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

Everyone applying for an immigrant visa, no matter how old they are, must have a medical exam before they get their visa. In Jamaica there is only one facility accredited by the U.S. Embassy to perform this exam.

• Only a physician approved by the U.S. Embassy can do the exam.
• It is your responsibility to schedule and attend a medical exam with the hospital below.
• Contact the hospital immediately at one of the numbers listed below to schedule your appointment so that the results of the exam reach the Embassy in time for your interview. 
  

Note: Medical exam results from different facilities will not be accepted.

Approved clinic:

ANDREWS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
27 Hope Road
Kingston 10

Telephone Numbers:
(876) 926-7401
(876) 926-7402
(876) 926-7403

Items to bring to your medical examination

Bring these items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview appointment letter
• Your passport
• Four (4) recent passport-sized color photographs
• Reading glasses (if you use them)
• A copy of your vaccination records
• All medication containers and/or your most recent prescription.
• Form DS-260 confirmation page

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the hospital.

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During the medical exam

The medical examination includes:

1. Medical history review
2. Physical examination
3. Chest X-ray
4. Gonorrhea test
5. Laboratory tests for applicants ages 15 and older
6. Tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants ages two and older
7. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing.

More information about general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (CDC).

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to get certain vaccinations before a visa is issued. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available at CDC.Gov. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements at Travel.state.gov.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will either:

• Give you the exam results in a sealed envelope or
• Send them directly to the U.S Embassy

IMPORTANT - If you are given an envelope to carry to your interview:

• DO NOT OPEN IT.

Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

Any x-rays will be given to you. You do not need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you are diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB).  

However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

The medical report must be less than six (6) months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview Checklist

EVERY applicant must bring the items below to the immigrant visa interview:

The Immigrant Visa Unit makes every effort to return original civil documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates, divorce decrees, and so on) to the applicant at his or her interview. All applicants must bring the original and at least one (1) good quality copy of all of their civil documents.  

*** Please note: In Jamaica, the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) makes certified copies of these certificates on forms slightly longer than standard letter-size paper. Those documents have serial numbers at the very top and bottom.

• This means that the copy size must be reduced to 92% so that you do not cut off the serial numbers.
• Copies missing serial numbers cannot be accepted.

A copy of your NVC interview letter. (Does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoption, or asylee/refugee applicants.)

Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months after the date you intend to enter the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).

Four (4) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm or 2-inch x 2 inch). Please review our online photo requirements.

Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.

Your original birth certificate and a photocopy. (See instructions above about the need to reduce Jamaican RGD documents to 92%). If your birth certificate was issued in another country and in a foreign language, you must also submit an English translation.

Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not coming to the United States.

Applicants who are in any category listed in italics below must bring these additional documents:

*** Please note: If any of the documents requested below were issued in a language other than English, you need to bring English translations to your visa interview along with the original civil documents.

For family-based visa applications: 

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for every financial sponsor, including the Petitioner, along with a photocopy of either (a) the sponsors’ most recent IRS transcript or (b) the sponsors’ most recent U.S. federal income tax return and the W-2 forms that go with it. Petitioners who have no income should submit a simple letter stating that fact.
• Proof of every sponsor’s U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency and domicile in the United States.
• Photocopies of a U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card will be acceptable proof.
• Please make sure your sponsor knows that a copy of her of his driver’s license is not satisfactory proof. They do not indicate citizenship or legal resident status.
• Evidence you want to submit to prove your relationship with your Petitioner (such as photographs, letters, electronic correspondence, money transfers, and so on).

If you are married: A marriage certificate issued by the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and a photocopy. (See instructions above about the need to reduce the RGD document to 92%).

If you were previously married: Your original divorce decree or previous spouse’s death certificate and a photocopy. (See instructions above about the need to reduce the RGD document to 92%).  

If you are 16 years of age or older: An original police certificate dated less than six (6) months ago from the country you live in now and any country you have ever lived in (other than the United States).  

For employment-based visa applications: Letter from your future U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction: Court and/or law-enforcement documents that clearly show the offense(s) you were charged with and the final disposition of the case(s), and  photocopies.

If you served in the military of any country: Military records and photocopies. 

For adoption cases:

• Adoption License or Order, and
• Irrevocable consent of the biological parent or death certificate of the biological parent, and
• Other civil documents that require a signature or seal
• If you are applying for an IR3 or IR4 visa, you must submit original documents about your case. If you cannot get an original, a signed and stamped copy from the Child Development Agency (CDA) can meet the requirements.

If you are the Petitioner’s stepchild:

• The original marriage certificate of the Petitioner and your biological parent (with an English translation of documents written in a foreign language) and
• Divorce decrees and photocopies for any previous marriages of either parent
• If they were married in the United States, a photocopy of the marriage certificate is acceptable 

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Interview Guidelines

Consular officers can only make decisions on visa applications after they review the formal application and interview the applicant.

There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa.  Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you receive your immigrant visa.

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later by courier services only (see Step 1).

If you must travel in Jamaica while your passport is still at the embassy, make sure you have a valid picture ID and your passport.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you cannot attend your appointment, please go to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-jm/iv for instructions about scheduling a new appointment date.

1. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please make every effort to attend the appointment NVC scheduled for you.
2. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available in the month you were scheduled by NVC.
3. Diversity-visa applicants should be aware that visas are limited in number and must be issued by September 30 of the program year.

Important: There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview.

Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online before you can reschedule it. The system will not allow you to reschedule an appointment to a date earlier than your assigned appointment. You can only reschedule an appointment on a date after your assigned appointment.  

If you need help rescheduling your appointment, please email [email protected].

Security screening procedures

Every visitor to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, must enter through the designated consular entrance on Old Hope Road and follow the security screening procedures. This includes U.S. citizens and visa applicants.

Please read https://jm.usembassy.gov/prohibited-and-permitted-items/ for information about prohibited items. We do not have facilities to store cellphones and other prohibited items.

Accompanying Persons

Our space is limited and must be reserved for applicants.

Attorneys cannot go with their clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Only these people may accompany a visa applicant to their interview: 

• Minor child applicants should be accompanied by a parent or responsible guardian.
• Elderly or disabled applicants who need mobility assistance may have one person accompany them to the interview.
• Applicants who do not speak sufficient English to conduct an interview may bring an interpreter. 

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to either the National Visa Center or through the appointment website, please be prepared to pay them on the day of your interview.

• All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the Jamaican dollar equivalent.
• You cannot combine both currencies.
• We accept cash, credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club) and debit cards that have the VISA or MasterCard logo.

Please note: If you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded.

A complete list of fees can be found here.

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After Your Visa Interview

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer cannot make a visa application decision because he or she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing.

• When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that states the additional documentation you must submit. The letter will include instructions about how to send those documents to the Embassy through email or our authorized service, as instructed.
  
  
• Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days after the interview. However, the time is different based on the facts of each case. Before you inquire about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Kingston

Visit the website of our approved service provider for information on visa document courier services. Do not mail documents or use other couriers.  

What happens after visa approval

Passport and Visa – Your passport and visa will be returned to you by courier at the address you selected when you registered with our authorized service provider (Step 1).  We will place your visa on a page in your passport.

Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling or other errors.  

USCIS Immigrant Fee: Everyone who is issued an immigrant visa overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before they travel to the United States.

This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people who do not have to pay this fee are:

• Children entering the United States on IR-3 or IR-4 adoption visas
• Returning residents
• People traveling on a fiancé(e) K visa

When You Should Travel: You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of your medical exam.

• Your visa cannot be extended and fees cannot be refunded.

The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas.

Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before they turn 21 years old must enter the United States before their 21^st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card: Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you wrote in your visa application form.

This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States.

If you must travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Consult the USCIS and CBP websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country.

You should check with the airline to make sure you are following their rules.

Once you get your card, do not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues: In the United States, children must have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. 

1. Bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States.
2. If your child is adopted, or if you have full custody because of a divorce, or if you share custody with another parent, bring a copy of all adoption or custody papers from the court that has the authority for such matters in your home country.
3. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information about moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination before your visa interview; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.

Additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants follow below.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants must also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website.
  
  
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the five (5) years immediately before your application. (This applies only to the principal applicant. More information is available online).
  
  
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee for each visa applicant.

Review your DV Lottery entry

Before your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your first E-DV entry.

1. On your first E-DV entry, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married, you must have listed your spouse, even if you are now separated from him or her. (Unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.)

2. Also, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes:

• Your natural children
• Your spouse’s children or
• Children you have formally adopted under the laws of your country.

If you did not list an existing spouse or child at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery, your visa and the visas for your family will be denied.

Fees paid to the U.S. government for your visa application(s) cannot be refunded.

If you did not include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application.

You can review the eligibility requirements here.

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