PRESS RELEASES 2005

U.S. Embassy Announces Courier Pass Back Program for Return of Immigrant Visas

September 23, 2005

Starting Monday, October 3, 2005, all approved immigrant visas will be delivered to recipients through a user-paid professional courier service.  The new procedure will reduce the time applicants must wait at the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section at
16 Oxford Road, allow more time for consular officers to review cases, and will better accommodate properly prepared applicants who will now have to make only one trip to the Consular Section building.  A special arrangement has been worked out with the courier service, who will charge visa recipients a nominal fee for delivery ranging from J$437 to J$525 (including GCT) depending on the level of service selected.

Procedure for Courier Service

As of October 3, when applicants who are approved for a visa finish their interviews, they may immediately proceed to the courier company’s office.  Consular officials will provide written directions so that applicants can locate the company’s office easily.  Each visa recipient will pay a fee to the company for the courier service and will discuss delivery details with company representatives.  Recipients can choose to have their passports (with visas affixed inside) delivered directly either to their home, place of business or to one of the company’s seven public offices located throughout Jamaica.  The courier company will make the delivery approximately four business days after the date of the interview at the Consular Section.

The courier service ultimately chosen as the exclusive agent authorized to deliver U.S. visas in Jamaica was selected after a lengthy bidding and thorough security review process.

This new program pertains to individuals applying for immigrant visas.  Emergencies will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

This new procedure will eliminate the inconvenience to applicants of having to return to the consular section to retrieve issued visas.  It also will enable the Consular Section to continue its commitment of providing high quality services to the public.  For more information, contact the U.S. Embassy during normal business hours at 935-6000, or visit http://kingston.usembassy.gov/