Im planning to move to Montego Bay St James area in the beginning of October this year. I already have a place to stay as my boyfriend has an apt. Rent is pretty reasonable and I love the area. I've just sold my home in the states and will be going to closing beginning July. I currently have a f/t job and p/t job and will be doing the back and forth thing working for a temp agency when I return to the states. I definately have means to support myself while living in Mobay. I'm also looking to buy investment property for additional income. Can anyone recommend or give some advise on lending institutions willing to lend to outsiders as I do have closing cost cash if that makes a difference? Also would anyone know how long I'd probably be allowed to stay in the country before they decided to give me the boot? I know I'd need an open ticket. Should I bring my bank info as proof that I can solely support myself? Any help or advice will be well appreciated, thxs!

This is a thread for Jamaica Miss so I'll just wait for her.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Thxs, I've been doing some reading of pass threads from Miss J and she had some really helpful info noted......does anyone know if she still does the back & forth thing even though she has a house on that lovely island now or, is she allowed to stay?

I've been going back & forth like Ja. Miss since last Aug. I have a home in Duncans bay on the N. coast, about an hour from Mobay.

First off, I know that if you are married to a Jamaican, it makes alot of things easier for working and staying longer than the 3 months Americans are now restricted to. (you can still get an extention)

Secondly, interest rates on mortgage loans in Ja. are extremely high....I don't know what they are now, but when I was looking at property 2 years ago, they were much more than I was willing to pay, so I went no further on checking and paid cash for my property (with a partner)

I always book a return date on my ticket....don't know anything about the "open end" type.

I'm willing to answer any questions you have...just ask!!

Thxs for the info. I was just surfing and your correct the intrest rates are extremely high but my thinking in getting the investment property was to not only pay the mortg but throw extra cash towards the principal to pay the property off in 4-5 yrs. Not sure about marriage again as I was already married to a Jamaican a yr or so ago. Hes been in the states for 4 yrs and our divorce was finalized last Oct. I love my current guy but not in a rush for the marriage thing again.

When you mention "extention", would I need to travel to Kingston for that? When I arrive at the airport will they decide how long I can stay right then & there?

Miss still stays for 6 months at a time and then goes home for a bit.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Wow, hope I can do 6 mths, the longest I've stayed on the island has been 1 mth at a time. It wasn't because they gave me the boot, just didn't wanna blow all my vac time in 1 crunch. Back & forth is cool for me as I'm with a couple temp agencies and still wanna work in the states. My X is actually from Trelawny. Hey do you think my divorce decree will give me any leverage? I know, fat chance right.......

Hi! Been away from the puta to take care of some business 3 hrs from my home here in Oregon. So, in answer to your questions:

You can stay in Jamiaca 6 months with a passport, 3 months without. I'm talking an American citizen. You can travel to Kingston to get Jamaican residency which will extend you to 2-1/2 years, I believe. I have not done this yet, but am planning on it next time I return. Then, the next step is Jamaican Citizenship. I don't know how long you wait with just the residency extension, but I do know that you can have dual citizenship. This is my final goal, the citizenship.

As far as getting a loan there, mortgages run 17-24 % depending on what you are buying, what bank you are using, and your financial status. I have info at home in Jamaica on good contacts at the banks, but can't remember names right now. It also helps if you put your savings with that bank or building society. I fooled around getting bank accounts with 3 different institutions just to try them out. They each have some things I like about them and some things I don't, but that's just like here in the US.

It looks like I can't return to Jamaica until August or September, but I will be glad to help you then. Please keep in touch either on the open board or with a PM.

Whats up Jamaica Miss .....I am a US citizen and do have a passport......I'm going down for the Reggae Sumfest 7/13 and will be returning to the states 7/23...... I will actually be making my move at the end of Sept to reside in Jamica. Wish we could meet up if you were still on the island.

Okay about the banks, to open up an acct what info would I need? Would I need a TRN#? Would I need the TRN & NIS numbers to buy property also? Could you give me info on how to obtain those things and I could possibly start that process when I go down in a few wks or do I have to actually be purchasing property? Oh yeah, I've been checking out the interest rates and they are enormously high, its almost like buying a car with really bad credit.

I already have 2 investment properties in mind and have conversed with the agents a bit via email but won't have "cash" till I close on my property 7/31 when I return back to the states. I could prolong my trip till after I close but I'm a bit of a partier and don't wanna miss the sumfest I know business before pleasure but you won't have the bank info till latest Sept and I wanna make sure I do everything in order.

Also wanted to know how do you like traveling back & forth? Do you work while in the states? When its close to your 6mths in Jamaica do you go to the embassy to file for extension or just leave?

Anyway, I'm getting chatty so I'd just like to say I would definately like your help and will keep in touch via message board also my email addresses are wrightsp@aetna.com & wrightsp_66@yahoo.com....thanks JM

You will need the TRN# to open the bank account and to buy property. You can obtain it in Mobay at the tax office. It's across from the craft market in the building they were painting purple I believe. You will have to show the passport and another form of ID, and make out a form. They give you a temporary paper with the number on it and can pick up the hard plastic one in around 3 months. I needed a NIS number to buy in Bogue Village and they did NOT want to give it to me. I finally convinced them that I needed it only for purchasing property. The reason they don't want to give it to Americans is because you could then work in Jamaica. I'm trying to recall where that building is to get the NIS number, but I'm sure the tax office could tell you. And good luck on getting one. You will need it.

Now whether you yourself will need the NIS number to buy property cannot be answered by me. You will have to ask the agents.

I really don't like travelling back and forth, but I have too much business to do while in the States that could not be done on the net or by mail. I work very little while in the US except for a couple of tax preparations just to keep my license. So I guess you would say I am semi-retired.

So far I have not gone to Kingston for residency but plan to do so when I return. I just leave after 6 months. However, I found out that all you have to do is go to Miami and then take a return flight and you have left Jamaica, so you can legally come back in for another 6 months. In other words there is no time frame that you must stay out of the country.

We definitely will be in touch and I should be back in September. Good luck on getting your numbers in July. And if you have any more questions, I will try to answer them.

The tax office is indeed purple now, JM. Just went there last week.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Thanks for the info again.......I have a friend in Washington DC who purchased a home in the Bogue housing scheme. I'm wondering if someone did everything for him cause he doesn't have any helpful info to share......I plan on being "semi-retired" also, returning to the states to work for temp agencies for 3 mths at a time. for right now......I hate the winter mths and definately won't be in the states during that season. I guess all in all the TRN# should be a breeze to get but the NIS will be the big challange....hummm, I'm ready for the fight

Will be logged on daily till I leave in a few wks and I'm printing this info. If you come across any other useful info please share, thxs again!

As far as the embassy goes, my advice is to heed posted hours VERY carefully. Watch for JA & US holidays. Never call them unless you are prepared to call for days on end. And, Never EVER e-mail them if you actually expect an answer. Oh, yah, and don't believe everything you read on their web site cause it probably isn't right. Yah, it sucks!!!

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Yeah I've actually called the embassy before about a work permit. The company I currently work for offered to let me work from home in Jamaica. When called the embassy I got switched from person to person......finally I talk to someone who actually knew something and she told me the info I would need from my US job, the permit fees, etc..... Im now waiting from someone to call me back from the HR dept at my job because their acting stupid & saying something about having to pay taxes if I worked in Jamaica after they were the ones who'd offered me work at home.....at this point I'll prob be better off doing the back & forth thing anyway, which I don't mind at all.

Question JG if Jomo doesn't make it to the states would you be willing to relocate to Jamaica?

The point is moot, now, cause he will make it to the states this week; but the answer was yes. That was always plan B. And, in a heartbeat.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...