New fee paying procedure for US visa applications

| 26/11/2009

(CNS): Starting next month, Cayman Islands residents applying for non-immigrant visas from the US Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, must present ‘fee paid’ receipts from National Commercial Bank (NCB) for application fees, as the Embassy will no longer accept payment for application fees in the Consular Section on the day of visa interviews. Without ‘fee paid’ receipts, applicants will not be permitted entry to the embassy and will need to reschedule their interview appointments.

According to information on the Embassy website, with the conclusion last week of its contract with Paymaster, the Consular Section of the US Embassy is now accepting receipts for visa application fees paid only at NCB. This change applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including fiancé (e) visas and visas for Cayman Island residents.

The Embassy granted a two-week grace period, ending 30 November 2009, for Cayman Island residents who may have already made other arrangements for paying their application fee or who plan on paying their application fee in the Consular Section of the US Embassy. Starting 1 December, Cayman Island residents applying for a non-immigrant visa must present a ‘fee paid’ NCB receipt for non-immigrant visa application fees.

Applicants must present “fee paid” receipts in their own name since non-immigrant visa application fees are not transferrable to another applicant.

The Embassy says this change allows it to increase security for applicants and ensure that only NCB, the approved payment location, is collecting fees.

Visa applicants can make an appointment for their visa interview through the Embassy call centre and self service website.

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I have lived in Cayman since the late 1960’s and I know that a US Govt. representative used to come here regularly in the 70’s or 80’s because I distinctly remember going to the Tower Building to meet with him and submit a visa application.  I cannot remember if the application was processed here during the visit or taken back to Jamaica. 

    • Anonymous says:

      It was taken back to Jamaica and the passport eventually came back in the Government’s Diplomatic Mail Bag. Not certain if that meant that the passports were handed over to the British High Commission for onward delivery or what. The US Government representative did the "screening" here so it was just the paperwork part of the exercise and stamping the visa into the passport that had to take place in Jamaica.

    • Twyla Vargas says:

      13:05  YOU ARE SPEAKING TRUTH.  Yes in the early 70,s US Govt. representative did visit the Cayman Islands and processed documents for visas and US passports.  I applied for and received a US passport for my oldest son right at the Glass house.   How they processed it I dont know.  But three months after applying in 1973 I had the passport.

      I am concerned as to what happened since then.  Why is it that Caymanians have to travel to Jamaica and the Bahamas for a visa and the sort.  As important as we pretend to be, there are some things that we are far behind in.  I do hope those in authority let Caymanians know the truth about this.  WHY?

  2. Anonymous says:

    You go to JAM, get your visa. While you’re there, eat some ackee n saltfish, oxtail, drink two appleton n cokes (or two bottles), and feel iiiirie!..;-)

    • Anonymous says:

      You are kidding right? All that stuff is available here as well as the multitudes of Jamaicans. And we don’t have to lock down in the evenings and walk around looking back over our shoulders in fear that somthing may come from behind and rob us.

      • Jackson says:

        Not sure which Cayman you live in, but in the Cayman I live in we are locking down at night and we are looking over our shoulders to see who’s coming to rob or shoot us.

        • Anonymous says:

          On the whole scale of things, even with the recent activity. I am able to walk around and feel safe in Grand Cayman. I can’t say the same for kingston. Maybe because when I am there and because of my light complexion they feel that I owe them something. 

          • Anonymous says:

            ha! ha! …there are lots of ‘light-skinned’ jamaicans walking around jamaica my dear, you wouldn’t be alone there!  i have lived here for years and used to leave my windows opened at night for fresh air. now i have to make sure it’s locked tight and my doors are secure. you need to wake up and smell the coffee – gone are the days when we used to feel safe here….stop feeling like we’re any better than jamaicans. we seem to be heading down the same path!

            how vile people have become, even in our schools!

             

    • Anonymous says:

      It happenin’ right yah—open your eyes if yuh have them closed!

  3. Anonymous says:

    It’s time our government request a visa office here. Even if they only come twice per month to process applications!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Because it is not the responsibility of the Cayman Islands Government to make foreign consular services to the people of its country. Their is a us consular office in the Cayman Islands and the US government has decided that it is of no benfit to them to have them issue visas. Please remember it is us the visa applicants who need the visa and neither government could care less whether we get it or not. How much more do you want the cayman government to provide – we have less than 75,000 people living here and you want infrastructure that countries with millions of people have.

    • Anonymous says:

      Do you know anyone who has taken his family to the unsafe realms of Kingston spend US$3000.00 including the Visa fees and then be turned down? I am sure that the person would have felt alot better about spending the money here, even to be dissapointed by an unsuccessful attempt.

      • Anonymous says:

        The Embassy being in Jamaica dosent mean that Jamaicans get a visa easier than the Caymanians.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Because its not what Caymanians "feel" or want. Granting of Visas falls under the ambit of the state department. They set the rules. And the rule says Embassies grant visas.

    There is nothing non-independent Cayman can do except abide and stop looking for exemptions like spoilt little brats.

    • Anonymous says:

      Amen well said!! Thank you

    • Anonymous says:

      It is very strange that the US Embassy is in Jamaica when they have always been more kinder in the granting of Visas to the people of the Cayman Islands more than the Jamaican people. Ihave always thought about this over the years. We are not spoiled brats but rather Brats with money who go to the US and other places such as Jamaica and spend money, we do not go there and take away their livelihood.  I havent heard of one Caymanian that was denied entry to the good old US nor that they had to be shipping them out of New York and other States because of Gang envolvement, killing , stealing, raping etc.

      • Anonymous says:

        There is nothing strange about the embassy being in Jamaica, it is an independent country.  Cayman is a British overseas territory, not an independent country and as a result, there will never be an embassy here unless Cayman goes independent (and there is no guarantee that an embassy would be opened after independence).  Aso, why should the US taxpayer foot the bill to make it easier for Caymanians to get visas when they can go to Jamaica to get one which I am sure is more cost effective for the US.

      • Anonymous says:

        As one Caymanian to another; you are so wrong; it is quite possible that a Caymanian might not have been denied entry into the U.S, but why dont you request the stats from the US Embassy and see how many full breded Caymanians have been denied a US visa – you will be shock.  Yes there are many Caymanians (maybe not hundreds at once) who have been deported from the United States for crimes committed, ranging from drug trafficing, firearms office, stealing etc; it is just that our government do not reveal this.  I am in my late 40′ and as long a I can remember the US Embassy that have jurisdiction over the Cayman Islands have always been in Jamaica.  The Turks and Caicos Islanders must go to Bahamas, some eastern caribbeans nationals have to travel to either Trinidad, Barbados or Guyana depending on which island you live, so why should the U.S.A. change something that is not broken to accommodate us; because we think we are better than others – you said we have money; which is the root of all evil.  Please remember the US does not have a diplomatic relationship with the Cayman Islands.

  6. Anonymous says:

    First and foremost let me start by saying i dont feel that caymanians should have to go to a next country to get a visa.why is it that the Government doesnt have something or some one that comes here at least once a month to deal with these sort of things.

    • candice says:

      My fellow Caymanian, I thank God it keeps us humble.

      People don’t come to us – we must come to Jamaica! 

      Such is life!

      • Anonymous says:

        Yeah, do our part in keeping the Jamaica economy going, along with all the CI$ going there every month(Sark). I agree with the comment that they should have someone come here to conduct the interview. Even if we (Caymanians have to pay US $500.00 it would be cheaper and we would feel alot safer.