Originally Posted by Jomo's girl

Today is a good news, bad news kind of day. (I feel like this is my diary like when I was a kid!!!)

I sent Jomo to the Embassy last Friday to pick up a packet and drop off the DS-230 part I. I had faxed our approval letter on Monday for them to open up the case and prepare the packet. Without the DS-230 part I, they will not proceed. You can wait for them to receive the approval in the mail from the US, mail out your packet via slug mail (slower then US snail mail), mail it back to Kingston, and then go from there or, you can hurry them along. We had been calling for 3 days. The information line is only open 1:30-3:30 pm daily. He finally got through the 3rd day, only to be put on hold for 20 minutes and using all his phone card. Anyhow, he went to Kingston Friday.....3.5 hours, traffic, road block...made it to the embassy at 10:02 a.m. Happens that the information desk is only open 7:15-10 a.m. M-F except U.S. & Jamaican Holidays.

So, I sent him back today. He got through, got the packet, turned in his form, and got assigned an appointment for June 6th. It seems you can no longer make valid appointments on the Jamaican embassy web site, even though it says you can. They still want you to fill out form DS-156 online and print it out. The packet contains every single form I have already told you about, researched, found, printed, filled out, and prepared. So, that is good news. It also contained a list of official documents & pictures he needs (again, I was ready) and the news that he needs to bring $335 with him to the appointment. YIKES. Wasn't prepared for that.

A note about the medical exam too: Once you get your interview date, the medical places will allow you to call and make an appointment. It takes at least 2 weeks to get one in MoBay. Kingston had appointments this week. They warn you that it takes 10 days to get the info. to Kingston, so make it early. $95 for the appointment and bring extra in case you need shots. Jomo went to the clinic and got the shots he needed before he goes to the medical. Cheaper.

Also note, everything can be paid in US or Jamaican currency; but not a combination of the two.

So, our new target date is June 6th for the Visa interview, June 12th for the Visa delivery, June 15th I fly down, June 6th we come back.

More on the medical next week. His appointment is May 18th.

Wish us luck. It is so confusing and maddening that you want to scream most of the time. Hope I am helping someone else along the way.