Interview Waivedfor US Student Visas
The Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs,in conjunction with the Embassy of the United States of Americain Jamaica (with jurisdiction over the Cayman Islands), is pleasedto make the following announcement in relation to United Statesstudent visas.
In order to facilitate the adjudicationof student visa requests from citizens of the Cayman Islands,students are asked to adhere to the following guidelines:
The requirement will be waived for applicantsto be interviewed by a US consular officer if they are 16 yearsof age or older. Potential students should contact the Portfolioon telephone # 244-2403 to make an appointment to file their studentvisa application.
Students will meet at a pre-arranged timeto have their application reviewed to ensure that it has beencompleted and all supporting documentation is attached. This exercisewill be carried out on the fourth floor of the Government AdministrationBuilding from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. on the following days:
1. Wednesday, 4 July (to be dispatched tothe US Embassy on Friday, 6 July)
2. Wednesday, 11 July (to be dispatched to the US Embassy on Friday,13 July)
3. Wednesday, 18 July (to be dispatched to the US Embassy on Friday,20 July)
4. Wednesday, 25 July (to be dispatched to the US Embassy on Friday,27 July)
A fee of $40.00 will be payable to the CaymanIslands Government for this service prior to the screening ofeach application.
A weekly courier package will then be sentfrom the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs to the USEmbassy in Jamaica, which will return the passports via courierto the Portfolio approximately three weeks after being sent tothe Embassy. Each student will then be contacted to arrange collectionof his/her passport.
Any student whose application is incompletebecause of a missing document (such as an I-20 form) and the timeframeof three weeks is too long to process their application shouldcontact the Passport Officer directly on 244-2024.
The Passport Officer will provide informationthat will involve travelling to Jamaica to apply for the studentvisa in person.
This process can take up to 72 hours.
Students are reminded that the followingdocuments are necessary to allow an interview to be conducted:
a fully-completed application form (available at the PassportOffice);
a valid I-20 form supplied by the university, college or technicaltraining facility where the study will occur. This document shouldspecify the duration of study and the fees involved;
a Cayman Islands passport valid for six months or longer;
a current Police Clearance Certificate (with no conviction listed);
a recent passport-size photograph (37mm x 37mm);
a draft for US$45.00 made payable to the Embassy of the UnitedStates of America and drawn on a bank with an affiliate bank inthe United States; and evidence of financial support from theperson responsible for paying tuition, fees, books, living expensesand other support funds (such as bank statements, parents' jobletter showing earnings, affidavit of support, scholarship letter,etc).
No incomplete application will be forwardedto the Embassy for processing.
Citizens of other countries who are resident in the Cayman Islandsmay renew previously issued student visas; however, those whoare first-time applicants must appear in person at the Embassywith the documents shown above for a personal interview.
The Embassy also reserves the right to requireany applicant to appear for an interview at the discretion ofthe adjudicating consular officer.