KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Embassy of the United States of America in Kingston announced on Thursday (November 13), a package of improvements to the Consular Section’s visa operations to better serve the traveling public and facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S. The improvements will go into effect next week as follows:
• On Monday, November 17, National Commercial Bank will begin collecting the visa application fee of $131.00 USD at its dozens of branches island wide.
• On Wednesday, November 19, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) will begin providing visa information and scheduling appointments via a pay-for-service telephone Call Center staffed by live operators and will open a self-service website option at slightly lower cost.
• On Wednesday, November 19, DHL will become the embassy’s official courier pass-back company to deliver passports with visas to all successful applicants. DHL will have a counter in the Consular Section waiting room where applicants will make arrangements for delivery of their passports.
CSC Corporation, the operator of the Call Center, is a U.S. State Department contractor located in the Washington D.C. area. This same service package has been introduced successfully in many other U.S. consular posts around the world, many with heavier visa demands than Kingston. CSC has hired local “greeters” who will meet applicants outside the embassy to help them move quickly into the Consular Section, to ensure that documents are in proper order, and to explain procedures and answer basic questions.
How much will it cost?
• The cost for the Call Center option will be $13.00 USD to obtain visa information and schedule an appointment for a nonimmigrant visa interview. The fee covers an eight-minute conversation and would allow an applicant to reschedule the appointment twice, if necessary.
• The 24-hour/seven days a week self-service website will cost $10.00 USD to obtain information and secure an on-line non-immigrant visa appointment.
• DHL will deliver passports to applicants’ addresses for $8.50 USD. Only one fee will be charged per family of up to five members.
