Visas

Emergency Information for American Citizens

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

Local Emergency Information and Contacts

Read alerts for U.S. Citizens

Visit Travel.State.gov for More Information

Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine

On May 11, Nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. Please view the updated COVID-19 vaccination travel requirements.

COVID Vaccine Requirements

Please view the updated COVID-19 vaccination travel requirements.

U.S. Visa Services

Visit the United States

Immigrant Visas Process Improvement

We have made improvements to how we process immigrant visas. In order to benefit from these improvements, you will need to follow these steps. If you have not yet come in for your interview, please register PRIOR to your appointment. If you have already come in for your interview, we cannot continue processing your case until you register.

What is a Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship or nationality.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, please visit Travel.State.gov for additional information.

Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States, but when planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit.

Do You Already Know What Type of Visa You Need?

For nonimmigrant visas, you can go directly to the online application for the DS-160; or for immigrant visas, directly to the USCIS site for the relevant forms. If you are unsure, please use the Visa Wizard below to help you determine your visa type.

View Local Information

Visa Types

Our Locations

U.S. Embassy in Kingston

Address:

142 Old Hope Road Kingston 6 Jamaica, West Indies

Phone:

876-702-6000

Fax:

876-702-6348

Email:

KingstonNIV@state.gov

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Additional Information

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers Rights and Protections for Immigrant Visa Applicants Diversity Visa

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

The pamphlet linked below informs you of your rights as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.

Select Your Pamphlet

Rights and Protections for Immigrant Visa Applicants

The pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Select Your Pamphlet

Diversity Visa

The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program, which makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available through random selection. The program allows those from countries with low immigration rates to the United States; to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa.

Learn How to Apply

Cayman Applicants

Applicants in the Cayman Islands Applicant Documentation Visa Waiver Program for Cayman Applicants

Applicants in the Cayman Islands

Cayman residents must follow all of the procedures for completing the electronic visa application forms if they wish to apply for a visa.

Learn More

Applicant Documentation

In preparation for the Consular Section interview, applicants must collect the appropriate documentation related to the purpose of travel.

Visa Waiver Program for Cayman Applicants

This waiver remains available for Cayman Islands passport holders who choose not to apply for a U.S. visa. Use of the waiver provides less flexibility than possession of a visa because each application for a waiver is good for only one entry to the U.S.

Learn More