spicegyal
5/28/2013 15:21 EST
Hello,
I am moving to JA from Toronto and would like to know if this is even possible. I am not Jamaican nor do I have parents who are Jamaican born, my boyfriend is and he lives and works in JA.
I've heard that I just buy a 3mth ticket and have it extended but have to come back to T.O. every 6 months, is this right?
Is there any way of me finding work there or does that entail work permits that are impossible to get?
Please advise, much appreciated.
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royal
6/4/2013 09:55 EST
http://www.pica.gov.jm/Contact-Us.aspx
Here is the link to the immigration department in Jamaica. You can inquire about what is required for you to stay in Jamaica. I know you can get an extension of stay but I'm not sure how long they will give you plus you can get an unconditional landing status but again I'm not sure if that only applies to Jamaicans or people of Jamaican lineage. The unconditional landing status would be the best to have as it allows you to stay in the country indefinitely.
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labellalife
7/28/2013 03:21 EST
Hi! I'm moving to Jamaica next year. Ive been doing a lot of research about how long I can stay there as a tourist and according to what I've gathered you can stay a maximum of 6 months per year. The maximum time they'll give you upon arrival is three months and then you can extend that period once in Jamaica. From what I've read on a few forums a lot of expats do stay in Jamaica for longer than 6 months but they leave the island before their visa is up and go right back a couple of weeks later without a problem, but again this is just posts I've read online and not 100% proven. My boyfriend is Jamaican as well and we've decided to live together so I'm moving there next year. I plan on going for three months and extending my visa after that, hopefully by the time my tourist visa is up ill have something else figured out that will allow me to stay there as a resident, but for now I plan to stay there as a tourist, at least for the first 6 months. I posted tonight about making friends who are planning to move, we should connect! Good luck!!
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Prittikitti
8/12/2013 00:44 EST
Well ladies U have one more addition. I'm planning on moving this year. Same as yourselves my boyfriend resides there. I'm presently trying to obtain the "correct" info regarding the living & working requirements for Canadians. Please let us keep in touch & share our findings to make our "Sisters In Travel" relocation be a smooth & happy one. U may contact me @ kitti4life@gmail.com
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spicegyal
8/14/2013 12:50 EST
Hello,
Glad to hear I'm not the only one with this new endeavour. Should we be doing anything in the meantime to prepare? What about when we purchase out tickets to go to Jamaica what return date to we put---3 months or 6 month? So many questions.
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LoriB
8/14/2013 16:28 EST
You can have a return ticket that is 6 months out, but immigration will only stamp you for 90 days max, and you have to go to kingston or mobay PICA office to request an extension, which costs $10,000 jmd.
I suppose you could be in Jamaica for 90 days in one shot, if your first arrival in a calendar is around October, and you depart around the end of June the following year, or you arrive around early July and depart near end of March . They count DAYS, not months, and the day you arrive and the day you depart are each counted as 1 day. Maximum 180 days per CALENDAR year, on a visitor's visa.
You must have a return ticket (itinerary) in your hand when you arrive on the island. They will ask to see it
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labellalife
8/17/2013 12:22 EST
I was planning on getting a round trip ticket with return date three months out from my arrival. Every time I've been back, they have stamped my passport with three months only. My plan is to 1. come back to Florida for two weeks after the three months OR 2 stay, miss the return flight, and buy one later on before the six months are up. But I live in Florida and tickets from/to Jamaica are pretty cheap. I'm sure tickets from Canada are much more expensive. I'm not sure how immigrations would react when seeing a return flight date six months out. I would inquire and make 100% that they will allow that. Also, I know tourists are only allowed six months per year, which means that if you stay six months you couldn't come back for another six months. I've heard of people who just go back to their country before the six months for two weeks and then return without a problem, as long as they leave before the six months are up. Spicegyal and Prittikitti where in Jamaica are you moving to? I would love to keep in touch and maybe get together after our move.
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LoriB
8/18/2013 10:11 EST
You can arrive with a return ticket up to 179 days in the future, that is not a problem. (I've done it) They will stamp your passport for 90 days and tell you that you will have to go to Mobay or Kingston before the 90-day stamp expires.
There is no need to waste a ticket.
As far as what you've heard about people staying nearly 2 months, leaving for a couple weeks and returning again, yes that used to be possible a few years ago, but it is much less likely to work now, as they are enforcing more of the rules now.
I have heard of immigration counting people's days of stay and turning them away if they are over or limiting their stay to the days they have left.
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labellalife
8/18/2013 14:26 EST
That's good to know, I'll do that when I'm ready to move then. When you did that in the past, you had to leave Jamaica for six months before you were able to go back?
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LoriB
8/18/2013 15:02 EST
I'm in a 'waiting it out' period right now. I have some days left for 2013, and scheduling my return accordingly.
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luvvinlife
From: Jamaica
8/18/2013 22:03 EST
yes, i did do just that, a few years ago, stayed six months, flew to florida for three nights, and then back to ja, as i was living there....and i was unaware of the six calendar months max rule..and they did not enforce..but not long after, when i went to ge my passport stamped, they said no more..
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luvvinlife
From: Jamaica
8/19/2013 07:23 EST
another thing that i might mention, that is, even though you may LOVE jamaica, as i do, sometimes six months straight, is a little too long, you will probably have island fever by then..i wouldn't buy the ticket for six months out..just my opinion..
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spicegyal
8/19/2013 08:10 EST
Thank you for all the information. I will keep that in mind when the time comes and more than likely it will just be a regular ticket and hopefully get my stay extended while I'm there.
Thanks again.
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jammin2
8/30/2013 15:28 EST
Hi, I moved to Jamaica a couple years ago. I had a regular ticket which gives you 3 months but I would get an extension before the 3 months was up for another 3 months ($100). I would go home and come back and do the same. I eventually got my work permit by registering my business and applied for a work permit, working for myself. It wasn't cheap..2k for the year but I can at least work and not leave the country. I went through the whole process so if you need more info, feel free to email me unafide@gmail.com
Good Luck! :) I love it here!
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labellalife
9/14/2013 16:20 EST
I think she means $2,000 US. I think that's how much it costs to get a business registered and a work permit for a year. Jammin2 Do you have to pay that much money each year? or how much after that? I can't wait to move! The only thing I worry about is employment, I've heard is really hard to find employment unless you open your own business... What kind of business are you running? I guess the tourist industry is a big option.
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LoriB
9/17/2013 11:15 EST
You have to renew the work permit every year.
If you start a business in the tourist industry, you will be competing with Jamaicans. If that is your plan you better have a substantial business so you can employ Jamaicans in it and/or require Jamaican suppliers.
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sunshineismine
10/2/2013 14:47 EST
Hi Labellalife I will be residing in Kingston 10. I was hoping I could purchase a 1 way tix from Canada but I'm being deterred. My plan is to relocate & find a job when I get there...any recomendations are greatly appreciated. Finding employment online is difficult....HELP.
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labellalife
10/3/2013 01:32 EST
If you go as a tourist you have to have a ticket back, they will ask you for the date of your return and will want to see te ticket conf number etc. what kind of work are you looking to do in Jamaica?? From what ive heard opening your own business and making your own living is the only option. I'm uncertain of what I'll do on a I move. I think I would want to livecthere or 6 months before investing any money though, just to make sure I really want to live there. How come you decided to move? I'm going because besides the fact that I love the country, my boyfriend is jamaican and I want to be with him. Good luck!
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luvvinlife
From: Jamaica
10/3/2013 11:57 EST
Yes, good luck...it's not easy to make a living there, but is not impossible..However, it takes a while to come to realization that you may NOT want to live there, year round..spend the time...island fever does set in
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