Embassy in Kingston awaits ‘further guidance’ on visa edict
Johnson Smith says Jamaican tourists, students, farm workers, others not impacted
Published:Thursday | January 15, 2026 | 12:14 AMLivern Barrett/Senior Staff Reporter
The United States Embassy in Kingston is awaiting “further guidance” from Washington following the decision by the American government to suspend the processing of immigrant visas in Jamaica and 74 other nations, a high-ranking source has revealed.
The temporary pause takes effect on January 21, according to the US State Department, which announced the new directive yesterday.
The source, who is not authorised to speak publicly, said Jamaicans already issued with an immigrant visa and booked to travel should not encounter any issues.
“We are waiting for guidance now about what we do with appointments that are on the books, and also people who have already submitted their applications and are currently in processing,” the source told The Gleaner yesterday.
“We don’t know what happens with visas that are currently in the pipeline but have not been issued yet.”
Jamaicans with appointments up to January 21 should still turn up and “see what happens at that point”, the source suggested.
“If they have an appointment on January 22, I would say there is no reason to come because any processing [of immigrant visas] is going to stop.”
The processing of non-immigrant visas – which permit travel to the US for business and pleasure – will continue as usual.
Immigrant visas account for a small percentage of travel authorisation processed by the US Embassy.
However, the source acknowledged that the temporary pause in the processing of immigrant visas would have a “huge impact” on Jamaicans waiting in line to migrate to the US.
“The biggest impact is that people who had complete plans to immigrate, particularly if they were planning to do it in relatively short time, this puts a pause on all of those plans,” the source said.
“There are some people who were planning to travel for health reasons; you know, for a variety of reasons they had worked out to be able to join family or to emigrate to the United States, and that is all on hold,” the source said.
The Jamaican Government was also in a wait-and-see posture following yesterday’s announcement.
Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith disclosed in a message posted on social media yesterday that her office was “seeking verification and clarification”.
She later posted, “I have confirmed that there is in fact a pause in the issuance of US immigrant visa applications from nationals of certain countries, including Jamaica. I repeat that this relates to immigrant visas only (persons seeking to live permanently in the US). This does not affect applications for regular tourist visas, student visas, business visas or visas [that are] part of seasonal work programmes (farm work and hospitality), which continue to be processed by the US Embassy in Kingston.”
Johnson Smith added: “While detailed information is not available, I am advised that the US Embassy will provide such further clarity as they are able. I encourage persons with individual/family processes under way and who have specific questions, to use their usual platforms and channels to seek updates.”