2:16 PM Jamaica | ||||
U.S. Consular Agent - Montego Bay Whitter Village, Ironshore Unit EU-1 (across from Burger King) Montego Bay, Jamaica Telephone: +(876) 953-0620 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica: +(876) 702-6000 Public Hours are M-F, from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jamaica is a developing nation of over 2.7 million people. Facilities for tourists are widely available. International airports are located in Kingston and Montego Bay. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet for Jamaica for additional information. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements All U.S. citizens traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a valid U.S. passport to exit or enter the United States. U.S. citizens cannot travel on naturalization certificates or expired passports. If you plan on travelling by sea, you must present a valid passport book or passport card. Local authorities however prefer passport books as many are unfamiliar with passport cards. Cruise ship passengers who plan to travel on documentation other than a U.S. passport should be aware that in the event of an emergency that requires return to the United States on a commercial aircraft they will be required to obtain a U.S. passport. The Consular Agency in Montego Bay can facilitate emergency passport issuance, but these take 2-3 days to receive. Only the Embassy in Kingston can provide same day service. Immigration authorities require most tourists to have a return ticket and be able to show sufficient funds for their visit. If you are traveling to Jamaica for work or an extended stay, you will need to have a current U.S. passport and a visa issued by the Jamaican Embassy or a Jamaican Consulate. There is a departure tax for travelers, which is regularly included in airfare. For further information, please contact the Embassy of Jamaica at 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 452-0660; the Jamaican Consulate General in Miami (25 SE 2nd Ave # 850 Miami, FL 33131-1699, tel:(305) 374-8431), the Jamaican Consulate General in New York (767 3rd Ave # 2 New York, NY 10017-9032, tel: (212) 935-9000); or honorary consuls in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Seattle or Los Angeles. Visit the Embassy of Jamaica website for the most current visa information. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors or foreign residents of Jamaica. Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page . Safety and Security Violence and shootings occur regularly in certain areas of Kingston and Montego Bay. Embassy employees, as well as private U.S. citizens, are advised to avoid traveling into high-threat areas including, but not limited to, Mountain View, Trench Town, Tivoli Gardens, Cassava Piece, and Arnett Gardens in Kingston, and Flankers, Canterbury, Norwood, Rose Heights, Clavers Street, and Hart Street in Montego Bay. Sudden demonstrations are rare but can occur, during which demonstrators often construct roadblocks or otherwise block streets. Jamaican media reports on fire safety indicate that nightclubs and other places of entertainment are often not in compliance with fire safety regulations. Overcrowding is common and you should remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Jamaica currently lacks the infrastructure to provide shelter and protection for travelers who temporarily become destitute during their stay on the island. You should be aware that under such circumstances you may be stranded without recourse unless and until family, friends, or the Embassy can provide appropriate assistance. In some cases, the Jamaica Tourist Board can also help. Serious and even fatal accidents have occurred involving jet skis near beach resorts. Swimmers, snorkelers, divers, and kayakers should be mindful of jet ski traffic in the area, especially, but not exclusively, outside of roped swimming areas. To stay connected:
CRIME: Crime, including violent crime, is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston and Montego Bay and other major tourist areas. While the vast majority of crimes occur in impoverished areas, random acts of violence, such as gunfire, may occur anywhere. The primary criminal concern for tourists is becoming a victim of theft. In several cases, armed robberies of U.S. citizens have turned violent when the victims resisted or were slow in handing over valuables. Crime is exacerbated by the fact that police are understaffed and often ineffective. Additionally, there have been allegations of police corruption. You should take all necessary precautions by always paying extra attention to your surroundings when traveling and keeping windows up and doors locked while in a vehicle or in your hotel. You should avoid walking alone, exercise special care after dark, and always avoid areas known for high crime rates. Under no circumstances should you accept rides from unknown individuals, including unmarked taxis, as this is often a pretext for attempted robbery and/or sexual assault. Each year, the Embassy receives a number of reports of sexual assaults against U.S. citizens, including cases of alleged sexual assaults at tourist resorts, some of which involve resort staff. It is important to realize that sexual assault allegations generally do not receive the same type of law enforcement attention in Jamaica that they would in the United States. Local law also requires the presence of the victim at some stages of the judicial process in order for a case to move forward. As a result, most sexual assault cases languish in the Jamaican courts until they are eventually dismissed. In addition, victims in Jamaica cannot expect the totality of victim’s assistance that is routinely offered in the United States. This includes hesitation to and/or lack of knowledge of how to collect evidence documenting sexual assault, a prosecutorial/interrogation approach to victims on the part of the police and hotels, and a lack of counseling for victims. Victims often have to ask for medication to avoid transmission of STDs and to reduce the chances of pregnancy. You should be aware of your surroundings, avoid secluded places or situations (even within resort properties), go out in groups, and watch out for each other. Don’t be afraid to ask or call out for help if you feel threatened or encounter individuals who make you feel uncomfortable. Report any suspicious activity to the U.S. Embassy, local police, and, if appropriate, the hotel’s management. As a general rule, do not leave valuables unattended or in plain view, including in hotel rooms and on the beach. Take care when carrying high value items such as cameras and expensive cell phones or when wearing expensive jewelry on the street. Women's handbags should be zipped and held close to the body. Men should carry wallets in their front pants pocket. Large amounts of cash should always be handled discreetly. In the last several years, a number of U.S. visitors have reported being robbed inside their resort hotel rooms while they slept. Particular care is called for when staying at isolated villas and smaller establishments that may have fewer security arrangements. You may wish to ask your villa or small establishment if they have met Jamaica Tourist Board certification standards for safety and security. The U.S. Embassy advises its staff to avoid inner-city areas of Kingston and other urban centers, such as those listed in the section on Safety and Security, whenever possible. Particular caution is advised after dark and in downtown Kingston and New Kingston. We also caution you not to use public buses, which are often overcrowded and are a frequent venue for crime. To enhance security in the principal resort areas, the Government of Jamaica has taken a number of steps, including assignment of special police foot and bicycle patrols. Some street vendors, beggars, and taxi drivers in tourist areas aggressively confront and harass tourists to buy their wares or employ their services. If a firm No, thank you, does not solve the problem, you may wish to seek the assistance of a tourist police officer, identified by their white hats, white shirts, and black trousers. These officers are only located at or near tourist areas. Drugs: Illegal drug use is prevalent in some tourist areas, leading to U.S. citizen arrests and incarcerations in Jamaica every year. Possession or use of marijuana or other illicit drugs is illegal in Jamaica. You should avoid buying, selling, holding, or taking illegal drugs under any circumstances. There is anecdotal evidence that the use of so-called date rape drugs, such as Rohypnol, has become more common at clubs and private parties. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other illegal narcotics are especially potent in Jamaica, and their use may lead to severe or even disastrous health consequences. Scams: U.S. citizens are often the target of international financial scams originating in Jamaica. The most prevalent scam in Jamaica is the lottery scam, also known as Advanced Fee Fraud. If you receive calls from Jamaica with claims of winning a prize or lottery, please be wary and never send money up front. It is illegal to play a foreign lottery, and if you did not enter a foreign lottery or drawing, then it is not possible to win one. Scammers may also seek to entice victims to travel to Jamaica to “collect their prize.” Such invitations can lead to the victim being kidnapped for ransom once in Jamaica. Additionally, relatives of U.S. citizens visiting Jamaica and U.S. citizens who are prisoners in Jamaica have received telephone calls from people claiming to be Jamaican police officers, other public officials, or medical professionals. The callers usually state that the visitor or prisoner has had trouble and needs financial help. In almost every case, these claims are untrue. The caller insists that money should be sent by wire transfer to either themselves or a third party who will assist the visitor or prisoner, but when money is sent, it fails to reach the U.S. citizens in alleged need. If you receive calls such as these, you should never send money before consulting the U.S. Embassy for additional information. The U.S. Embassy has also received reports of extortion attempts originating in Jamaica where the caller threatens the victim if they do not send a sum of money. Another financial scam reported is the “Damsel in Distress ” where a partner met over the Internet falls into a series of alleged mishaps and requests money with the promise of rewards at a later date, such as an in-person meeting. Contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy's Consular Section at KingstonACS@state.gov and provide as much detail as possible regarding the nature of the communication. Additional guidance on such crimes is available at the Department of State’s web page on International Financial Scams . Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law. VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can:
For more information on victims of crimes in Jamaica, please see the U.S. Embassy’s website . The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Jamaica is 119. Please see our information for victims of crime. including possible victim compensation programs in the United States. Local Laws & Special Circumstances CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Jamaica, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Jamaican laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Jamaica can be severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Jamaica, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings. In Jamaica, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Jamaica, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Airport and dock searches at cruise line ports are thorough, and people attempting to smuggle illegal drugs are often apprehended. Several U.S. citizens currently incarcerated in Jamaica prisons for drug smuggling say they were arrested for carrying bags that friends or acquaintances asked them to deliver to someone in the United States. In one case, the U.S. arrestee claimed that she express mailed a package for a local taxi driver who claimed not to have his identification with him. In another, the U.S. arrestee thought she was carrying canned foods for friends which were in fact illicit drugs. U.S. citizens should never accept packages/baggage in such circumstances. Jamaica has no tolerance for violations of its firearms laws, and persons can end up serving years in prison for possession of a firearm. Bringing ammunition into Jamaica is also illegal and can result in heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Mace, pepper spray, and knives also are prohibited and may not be brought into Jamaica without specific authorization from the Jamaican Ministry of National Security. Prison conditions in Jamaica differ greatly from prison conditions in the United States. Prisoners are provided only the most basic meals and must rely upon personal funds, family, and friends to supplement their diets, provide clothing, and supply personal care items such as toothpaste and shampoo. Most prisons are very overcrowded. Prisons do not supply bedding to prisoners. Packages shipped from the United States to prisoners are subject to Jamaican import taxes and are undeliverable when the recipient lacks the funds to pay the duties. If you are arrested in Jamaica, its authorities are required to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, perhaps because you are also a Jamaican citizen, you should request the police or prison officials to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States, and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well. Arrest notifications in host country : While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Fresh fruits, vegetables, and uncooked meats are not permitted to be brought in or out of the country and may be confiscated by customs officials. Pets may not be brought into Jamaica, except for dogs from the United Kingdom that have been vaccinated for rabies and then only after six months quarantine. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington or one of the Jamaican consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. Jamaica, like all Caribbean countries, can be affected by hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. The Jamaican Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is responsible for emergency management on the island. General information on hurricane preparedness is also available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Please enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive email messages related to evacuations prior to and after hurricanes. We are not aware of any special currency or customs circumstances for this country. If you are a women traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers . LGBT RIGHTS: Jamaican law contains specific prohibitions on certain sexual activities. These prohibitions have been used to target LGBT individuals. The law prohibits “acts of gross indecency” (generally interpreted as any kind of physical intimacy) between persons of the same sex, in public or in private, and provides punishment of up to 10 years in prison. There is also an “antibuggery” law that prohibits consensual same-sex sexual conduct between men. Negative attitudes towards LGBT issues are widespread in Jamaican popular culture and politics, and many Jamaicans see homosexuality as contrary to their religious beliefs. Although there is increasing public discourse about LGBT rights, there are continuous reports of serious human rights abuses against LGBT individuals, including assassinations, assault with deadly weapons, “corrective rape” of women accused of being lesbians, arbitrary detention, mob attacks, stabbings, immolations, and harassment of LGBT patients by hospital and prison staff. Young LGBT individuals bear the brunt of violence based on sexual orientation, creating a climate of fear that prompts many to emigrate. The gross indecency laws make those who remain vulnerable to extortion from neighbors who threaten to report them to the police as part of blackmailing schemes. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Jamaica, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page. ACCESSIBILITY: While in Jamaica, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. Jamaican law does not mandate access to transportation, communication, and public buildings for persons with disabilities, and few buildings have these accommodations. In general, popular tourist venues in Jamaica are not equipped to accommodate physically challenged visitors. While some of the country’s all-inclusive resorts are accessible, most transportation, entertainment, and even medical facility options are not. You may wish to consult websites and blogs that focus on accessible travel for practical information and first-hand accounts of traveling in Jamaica. Health You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization website. which contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information . For information on suggested immunizations for Jamaica, please refer to the CDC’s website for travelers to Jamaica . Medical care is much more limited than in the United States. Comprehensive but basic emergency medical services are located only in Kingston and Montego Bay, and smaller public hospitals are located in each parish. The availability of prescription drugs, emergency medical care, and ambulance services are limited in outlying parishes. Ambulance service is limited both in the quality of emergency care and in the availability of vehicles in remote parts of the country. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost 15,000 – 20,000 USD or more. Doctors and hospitals in Jamaica often require cash payment prior to providing services. In recent years, some U.S. citizens have complained that certain health-care facilities in beach resorts may have taken advantage of them by overcharging and/or providing unnecessary medical care. Many hospitals in Jamaica do not accept U.S. domestic health insurance or Medicare/Medicaid and will expect payment via cash, credit, debit card, or bank transfer before care is given. Elective medical procedures may be less expensive than in the United States, but providers may not adhere to U.S. standards. Additionally, facilities may lack access to sufficient emergency support. The U.S. Embassy encourages you to obtain as much information about the facility and the medical personnel as possible when considering surgical or other procedures, and when possible, patients should travel with a family member or another responsible party. Diarrhea: Diarrheal illness is very common among travelers, even in the cities and luxury accommodations. Travelers can diminish diarrhea risk through scrupulous washing of hands and use of hand sanitizers, especially before food preparation and eating. The greatest risk of traveler’s diarrhea is from contaminated food. Choose foods and beverages carefully to lower your risk (see the CDC Food Water Safety website). Eat only food that is cooked and served hot; avoid food that has been sitting on a buffet. Eat raw fruits and vegetables only if you have washed them in clean water or peeled them. Drink only beverages from factory-sealed containers, and avoid ice because it may have been made from unclean water. Talk to your doctor about short course antibiotics and loperamide to take with you in case of diarrhea while traveling. Dengue. Dengue is mosquito-borne illness that is becoming more frequent in tropical and equatorial climates around the world. Symptoms can include fever, rash, severe headache, joint pain, and muscle or bone pain. There is no specific treatment for Dengue and vaccines are still in the developmental phase. Preventing mosquito bites is the most important way to prevent this illness. Avoidance and prevention techniques include: reducing mosquito exposure by using repellents, covering exposed skin, treating clothing and tents with permethrin and sleeping in screened or air conditioned rooms. You can also reduce exposure through mosquito control measures, including emptying water from outdoor containers and spraying to reduce mosquito populations. The Aedes mosquitos that carry these illnesses are primarily day biting and often live in homes and hotel rooms especially under beds, in bathrooms and closets. Travelers should carry and use CDC recommended insect repellents containing either 20% DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, which will help diminish bites from mosquitoes as well as ticks, fleas, chiggers, etc. some of which may also carry infectious diseases. For further information, please consult the Dengue Virus Website . Ciguatera poisoning: Ciguatera poisoning is prevalent and results from eating reef fish such as grouper, snapper, amberjack, and barracuda. The toxin remains even when fish is well cooked but is uncommon in smaller fish (i.e. less than the size of a dinner plate) Marine hazards: Marine hazards include jellyfish (often causing sea bather's eruption), coral, and sea urchins. Dangerous (potentially deadly) jellyfish are present throughout the year, but particularly during the rainy season. Children are especially at risk, and adults wading, launching boats, or fishing. HIV/AIDS: 9% of sex workers in the capital city are estimated to be HIV positive. Travelers should clearly understand STD concepts and risks for HIV transmission. The Embassy’s website contains information on medical services and air-ambulance companies. Please alert the American Citizen Services Unit to such cases by calling (876) 702-6000. Travel & Transportation TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Jamaica, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Drivers and pedestrians should remember that, unlike the United States, driving in Jamaica is on the left-hand side of the road. Breakdown assistance is limited in urban areas and virtually unavailable in rural areas. Nighttime driving is especially dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible, especially outside of the cities of Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Negril. Heavy rains, which can occur at any time of the year, frequently leave roads impassable and result in life-threatening flash floods. You should monitor media reports for information on road conditions and closures. Gullies in particular should be avoided as they are prone to flash floods capable of sweeping away vehicles. As noted above in the section on Crime, public buses are often overcrowded and are frequently a venue of crime. Travelers who use taxicabs should take only licensed taxicabs having red-and-white PP license plates or taxis recommended by their hotels and should not accept rides from strangers. Most roads are paved, but suffer from ill repair, inadequate signage, large pot holes, and poor traffic control markings. Roads are often subject to poorly marked construction zones, pedestrians, bicyclists, and, occasionally, livestock. The lack of pedestrian crosswalks requires special vigilance for all pedestrians. Driving habits range from aggressive speeding and disregard for others to inexperience and over-polite behaviors creating uncertainty and hazards to pedestrians. Several times a year, U.S. citizen tourists in Jamaica are killed while attempting to cross busy stretches of road. In many cases, people are hit by an overtaking car after another vehicle stops and waves them across. Roads in rural areas (including near major tourist resorts in Montego Bay and Negril) are often traveled at very high speeds and pedestrians should take special care when attempting to cross. Drivers should maintain special care when entering traffic circles (“roundabouts”), which are often poorly marked and require traffic to move in a clockwise direction. Motorists entering a roundabout must yield to those already in it. Labeling of roundabout exit points is exceptionally confusing, often making it difficult to determine which exit to take to continue toward the desired destination. Failure to turn into the correct flow of traffic can result in a head-on collision. The A1, A2, and A3 highways are the primary links between the most important cities and tourist destinations on the island. These roads are not comparable to American highways, and road conditions are hazardous due to poor repair, inadequate signage, and poor traffic control markings. The B highways and rural roads are often very narrow and frequented by large trucks, buses, pedestrians, bicyclists, and open range livestock. Highways are traveled at high speeds but are not limited-access. Drivers and passengers in the front seat are required to wear seat belts, and motorcycle riders are required to wear helmets. Extreme caution should be used in operating motor driven cycles. Several serious and even fatal accidents take place each year involving U.S. tourists riding in taxis without seat belts. All passengers are strongly encouraged to use vehicles equipped with seat belts. Official emergency response to a road accident can be slow, given traffic, road conditions, distance from metropolitan areas, and a limited number of responders. In practice, many victims of vehicular accidents are assisted by fellow motorists. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. We also suggest that you visit the website of Jamaica’s national tourist office . AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Jamaica’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization aviation safety standards for oversight of Jamaica’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .
| ||||
|
| ||||
| Total comments: 0 | |