Clarendon72
5/13/2016 17:21 EST
Hi All,
Looking for some advice from others who have already gone through this process. I was born Jamaican but grew up in Canada. I have dual citizenship. I am considering relocating to Jamaica with my wife who is not a Jamaican. She has a Canadian and Trinidadian passport.
First of all, I would assume that entering Jamaica on her Trinidad passport would be better for length of stay because of Caricom (6 months). This would give sufficient time to process immigration docs.
Now I have read about Caricom unconditional landing and marriage exemption extension of stays. Would anyone know which would be a better option to pursue? Do I need to show bank statements, financial means of support?
I will not have a job on arriving in Jamaica. We will initially be using our savings. We plan to stay for 1 year before we decide if it will become a permanent move. So I don't want to pursue permanent residency for her before that decision.
I would appreciate any comments from those who may have gone through the same or similar process, or have knowledge of such. Thanks in advance.
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Suzy2016
5/13/2016 20:12 EST
I believe one of the first steps you should take is to call PICA and found out all the information you need to make that move. PICA has changed a lot over the years and in my last two years of dealing with them, I had to learn the hard way.
http://www.pica.gov.jm/
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jaminco
5/14/2016 02:57 EST
As Suzy2016 wrote in her reply check with Pica, However rest assured your wife will share the same benefits afforded to you just by virtue of you both being legally married before you both arrive in the island. The nationality of the passport she lands on doesn't matter but she'll be required to obtain an Unconditional Landing Stand from PICA for a fee of JMD20,000.00 to be able to take advantage of the shared benefits.. The same will apply to you if you land on a foreign passport and decide to stay beyond the normal tourist period.
Your real concern should be knowing the requirements relative to what you plan on taking with you for your 1 year stay. Recent changes with customs procedures makes your relocation experience on the port very costly and time consuming. If your planning on shipping your HHGPE you'll need to do thorough research with not only PICA but with Ja Customs Agency also
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Clarendon72
5/15/2016 18:34 EST
Thank you both for your insight. As far as what we would take, that's not a major concern for 1 year. We can stay with family and also have an option to rent a friends home. So we would only ship barrels with personal items and any necessities that are costly or hard to get in Jamaica.
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jaminco
5/15/2016 22:54 EST
As a Jamaica national traveling home you are entitled to a US$500.00 duty free concession per trip on barrels containing food item, misc grocery items and your PE (clothes) this 500.00 will only cover 3 Barrels. The rest you'll be required to pay a flat rate of duties (JMD6,500.00 ) per barrel. There are no ceilings on the quantity you can ship with the description I provided above. Pls bear in mind electrical appliances are not included so full duties will be applicable on any shipped.
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royal
5/16/2016 08:45 EST
From someone who travels to Jamaica at least 3 times per year, I always send down barrels when I go down, please note you need a TRN to clear the barrels. I've brought household appliances etc but the best thing to do is when your packing is to put all the appliances, electronics etc, at the bottom of the barrel, customs rarely empty the barrel. In my experience they've only gone half way.
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jaminco
5/16/2016 09:04 EST
Pls consider this...under the old legacy system, placing electronics at the bottom of barrels worked for some, probably most....under the new Asycuda Platform its all about electronic scanning and or 100% inspections ,...... when the inspecting officer finds these items, the Bill of Lading will need to be amended to reflect the true cargo description and the importer faces possible breaches for incorrect declaration and for trying to evade customs duties, even Returning Residents Cntrs are now all subjected to 100% inspections and custom entries.....pls be careful......oh BTW I'm not a customs officer.
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royal
5/16/2016 09:35 EST
@jaminco Are we allowed to carry small electrical appliance without incurring fees? On my bill of lading I put clothes, food and household items. I've carried small electrical appliances and was never asked to pay for them. What appliances/electronics incur fees?
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jaminco
5/16/2016 13:56 EST
Small appliances like a blender or toaster or likewise size in a barrel can easily be factored into your 500.00 allowance. Remember you qualify for 500.00 per trip but your're only awarded the full allowance or part there off at the airport on the day you land and after your checked & carry on luggage has been inspected.. This allowance cover not only items you shipped as unaccompanied luggage but also your accompanied (carry-on and your checked in). Your award is granted by the customs officer at the airport and is always written below your signature on the yellow C27 Form (passenger declaration). Pls check this before moving away from the officers desk. Here are a few examples and how to interpret, 150.00 -means the few nothings you had was valued at 150.00 so you only have 350.00 remaining, FAG -full allowance given means you have your full allowance. NIL - means your full allowance was applied to carry-on & checked luggage, remember you have a right of appeal to the office, have your receipts ready as proof of purchases
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jlynnbarrett
5/16/2016 14:05 EST
@Jaminco, do you have a rough idea of what the charges are for a non-Jamican shipping small appliances, clothing etc are? I heard they evaluate clothes and shoes, etc as new for a higher payment.
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jaminco
5/16/2016 14:13 EST
as long as it's in a barrel or barrels it will be flat rated at JMD6500.00 for duties + 2500.00 (max) for port charges or warehouse fees + another 3500.00 for Agency & Handling charges. Your approx total will be JMD12,500.00 per barrel or US105.00...This is only an estimate because the sliding Ja$. Pls note: if the identical items were shipped in a box or plastic bins they will valued and receipts requested. These are never given the preferred flat rates
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Vinnyvin
5/17/2016 17:35 EST
Your wife will meet the rules for unconditional landing by virtue of being your spouse. UL is easy to obtain once you have all the necessary documentation. Application can be made in Kingston or Mobay. (My fathers birth certificate did not have his surname on it, I applied on his behalf for a new birth certificate at the Registrar Generals office which delayed the process by a few weeks. Once obtained I went to the immigration office and received UL the same day). Good luck!
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jlynnbarrett
5/17/2016 17:47 EST
Thank you that is good to know. For the move we are using a 20 ft container so I am sure we will pay high rates for it.
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jaminco
5/17/2016 18:10 EST
If you prepare adequately while packing your cost here can be greatly minimised. Here are a few tips, Make sure you have a detailed packing list, if your packing yourself make sure you its done properly, if your packing is being done by a forwarder then its up to you to make sure they do it properly, S/N's & M/N's for TV's Fridges, Stove, Dish Washer etc are now required. Number your boxes and make sure the Bx or Pkg #'s are easily identified on the packing list. In other words anything to make it work of the custom officer easier will filter down to your final $. The additional amt you might pay is for Storage and Detention charges not to customs unless, you have items not disclosed in your interview with customs, items not considered HHG/PE or items in excess of the allowed amount. and BTW a good Custom Broker is a must
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jaminco
5/17/2016 18:10 EST
If you prepare adequately while packing your cost here can be greatly minimised. Here are a few tips, Make sure you have a detailed packing list, if your packing yourself make sure you its done properly, if your packing is being done by a forwarder then its up to you to make sure they do it properly, S/N's & M/N's for TV's Fridges, Stove, Dish Washer etc are now required. Number your boxes and make sure the Bx or Pkg #'s are easily identified on the packing list. In other words anything to make it work of the custom officer easier will filter down to your final $. The additional amt you might pay is for Storage and Detention charges not to customs unless, you have items not disclosed in your interview with customs, items not considered HHG/PE or items in excess of the allowed amount. and BTW a good Custom Broker is a must
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royal
5/17/2016 19:51 EST
Just one thing to make note when getting an unconditional landing status is it last as long as your passport is valid. So if you're passport is expiring soon I would suggest you get a new passport so you can get the full benefit. I received my UL after I got my new 10 year passport. The cost to transfer your UL to a new passport is $5000.
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