Warden Messages - December 2006

Move to New Embassy Compound

December 5, 2006

This Warden Message is being sent to alert U.S. citizens and travelers to Jamaica that the U.S. Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica, is moving to a new location.  All offices, with the exception of USAID and Peace Corps, will be moving the week of December 11-15, from their current locations at 2 and 16 Oxford Road, to the new U.S. Embassy building at 142 Old Hope Road in Liguanea.  The Embassy plans to re-open for normal operations Monday, Dec. 18, with the important changes below.

Consular Services Notice
During the week of December 11, the American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) will only be open for routine services on Wednesday and Thursday, December 13 and 14 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.  ACS will remain available for emergency services throughout the move.  American citizens requiring emergency assistance during this period should contact the Embassy at (876) 702-6000.  ACS will reopen permanently on Monday, December 18 with new public hours from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday to Friday.  As always, all consular offices are closed to the public on U.S. and Jamaican holidays.  

Important Visa Processing Changes
As a result of the move, effective December 8, 2006, no walk-in visa services of any kind will be provided.  All persons seeking visa services, including nonimmigrant visa renewals and immigrant visa information, must have an appointment, without exception.
 
All visa services will be temporarily suspended beginning at noon on Friday, December 8.  Limited visa services will resume on Wednesday, December 13.  All available nonimmigrant visa appointments will be posted online and applicants should check the Embassy’s website at kingston.usembassy.gov for available appointment times. 
 
Persons requesting emergency nonimmigrant visa services should follow the guidance on the website and send a request to kingstonvisas@state.gov.  Only a limited number of emergency appointments will be available from December 13 to December 15.   We plan to reopen for normal visa services on the morning of Monday, December 18.
 
Information regarding pending immigrant visa cases will now be provided by appointment only.  Persons requiring these services should check the Embassy’s website for guidance and submit a request for an appointment to KingstonIVInfo@state.gov.  

Access and Security Requirements for Visitors to the U.S. Embassy
All visitors to the Consular section, including all visa applicants and U.S. citizens, must enter the new facilities via a dedicated consular entrance on Old Hope Road.  All visitors to the Embassy are required to undergo a security check. Electronic items, including cell phones, beepers, and pagers, are prohibited on the Embassy compound and should be secured elsewhere before entering the Embassy. The Embassy reserves the right to limit the entry of possessions, and does not have the means to store these items.

Outbreak of Malaria in Jamaica

December 6, 2006

As reported widely in the Jamaican media, over a dozen persons have been confirmed to have contracted malaria in the area of Kingston, Jamaica over the last several days.  Local health officials have undertaken aggressive tactics to control the spread of the disease and to eradicate the mosquito population in affected areas.  No deaths have been reported, and those confirmed to have malaria are being treated and quarantined in local hospitals. 

The U.S. Embassy urges all Americans traveling to or residing in Jamaica to monitor local media and health reports regarding the disease.  General information regarding malaria, including preventive measures, is available at the website of the U.S. government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.  In particular, the CDC recommends that you take actions to prevent mosquitos from biting you.  These include eliminating places around your home where mosquitoes breed, such as standing water, and wearing insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing if outside at night.

American citizens in Jamaica who require emergency assistance can contact the Embassy at (876)702-6000 during business hours and (876)702-6055 after hours. 

Up to date information on safety and security can be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-201-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, expect on U.S. federal holidays.