The United States (US) Embassy in Kingston Jamaica is now conducting interviews for visitor visa applicants.

Our Today understands that appointment dates are now available to secure interviews to obtain a visitor visa for 2022 and 2023.

In August, the US Embassy announced that the next available tourist visa appointment would be in the fall of 2024.   

This meant that Jamaicans applying for B-1 and B-2 visas, often referred to as visitor visa, would not have been able to secure an interview for another two years.

The US visitor visa is for travellers who want to enter the US for business, tourism or both, and is valid for stays of up to 90 days.

The Embassy previously announced that the backlog and long wait time for appointments was a result of the two-year pandemic that disrupted consular operations worldwide.

Lengthy visa processing times prevented millions of travellers from travelling to the United States.

Our Today spoke with an individual who said she first heard the news from her sister.

She then heard from a friend that visited a travel agent who confirmed that visitor visa application dates are actually available for this year.

The websites and social media pages of several travel agencies have also confirmed that 2022 dates are now available.

In some countries, wait times are more than 400 days for first-time applicants. However, the delays vary hugely between countries.

Getting the green light to enter the US can take anywhere from three days to three years, depending on the applicant’s local embassy or consulate.

The estimated wait time to receive an interview appointment at a US Embassy or Consulate can change weekly and is based on actual incoming workload and staffing.