#Jamaica, August 22, 2022 – The US Embassy in Kingston Jamaica announced that the next available tourist visa appointment is in the fall of 2024.    This means that Jamaicans applying for a US tourist visa may not get an interview until the next two years.

The long wait time for appointments is a result of the two-year pandemic that disrupted consular operations worldwide. In the Ask the Embassy feature in the Jamaica Observer, the US Embassy shared that the COVID-19 pandemic created global backlogs. Student visas and immigrant visas only are being prioritised by embassies.

“It will take some time to address the backlogs and ultimately reduce the wait times for tourist visa appointments. In the meantime, those with emergency travel needs, such as for a critical medical appointment or to attend the funeral of a direct family member, can request an emergency appointment via the online appointment system. A consular manager will review the request to determine if it meets our criteria for an earlier appointment,” said the US Embassy.

It advised that people who wish to renew a tourist visa can do so without attending an in-person interview. The visa should have expired within the last four years. As for people doing renewals that only require an application and passport to be sent to Kingston, they may do so through the Jamaica Consulate.

Currently, renewals are on pause, but the embassy hopes to start accepting passport submissions for renewal in a few months.