Freyja
From: Iceland
6/7/2007 09:25 EST
Me and my boyfriend are thinking about moving to Jamaica for 4-6 months. We're both Icelandic citizens, and speak excellent english. Do the same rules of immigration apply to Jamaica as Britain? As members of the EEU, Icelanders don't need visas or work permit to move to Britain.
Also, is it difficult to get a short-term job and housing? We've finished 14 years of school, and both have obtained various language degrees (including english).
Any help appreciated :)
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norwegian114
From: Jamaica
6/14/2007 12:03 EST
Hi Freyja,
I am a Canadian who now works for an American company in Jamaica.
It took me 8 months of coming in and out of the country before I got a work permit. I'm not sure if it would take that long for you, but being a commonwealth member didn't seem to make it go any faster than it did.
Living in Jamaica takes some getting used to if you are not in a tourist zone.
If you are young and attractive, expect to get hit on often and not necessarily in a subtle manner.
Don't get in a local taxi. Their one aim in life is to get to the next fare before their competitors. Taxi's have more accidents than anything I've seen elsewhere.
Best of luck.
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SHAMBHALA
From: Colombia
6/15/2007 10:17 EST
Be very, very careful.
Unfortunately, the racial tension on the island can be a problem.
If you wish to communicate via private e mail let me know.
M
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jorge
From: Germany
6/15/2007 14:56 EST
It is the second person that tells me about "racial tension"...
Can you be more explicit about it?
What can I expect ? Verbal Aggression? Physical aggression ?
I could eventually move to Jamaica with my wife (30 and good looking)
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CamCam
From: Canada
7/5/2007 19:15 EST
Hi Norwegian114,
I am Canadian as well and moving to Jamaica in about a year. I have many questions that I have trouble finding answers to. Would it be possible to communicate by email? Mine is camila_@hotmail.com and my name is Camille.
Thanks!
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geyr7
From: Jamaica
7/10/2007 10:08 EST
As far as I know, you get no special pass for being a member of the Commonwealth. I'm an American and it took me 4 months to get my work permit, with the help of my British company. Because of said company, it took another 3 months or so to get it in my passport. I would have been better off going down to Kingston myself, which is what I did for my wife's visa. It has taken some Brits even longer. You could go and just stay for 4 months without leaving the island, many people in the work force do that while waiting on permits. But I have no idea how difficult it would be to get work on the island vs. what I did and had work before I went.
Regarding racial tensions, I had no confrontations. But there are a lot of people in the work force that have issue with whitey (my word) making high wages while they struggle to make a dime, all the while cost of living is higher than much of the US and England.
Tips:
Be respectful and try not to get angry if in an arguement because some Jamaican's can be quite volatile. I'm speaking of people I worked with around May Pen. I lived there for 1.5 years and toured the whole island. The most angst I found was at work and elsewhere, people were pleasant overall.
Everyone carries a tree-star (three star is a knife).
Stay away from banks when armoured vehicles are parked out front. While I was there, some guys with AK-47s robbed a delivery or pickup in May Pen and three people were killed. I think two police and one bystander.
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