Hello everyone, I am Jamaican by birth and I am a permanent resident who is in the process of joining the Navy. My mother is still in Jamaica and has never visited the country due to the jamaican embassy constantly denying her a visiting visa due to he lack of "ties"(lack of land ownership or a house ie collateral) to the country. I would like to know if after RTC if the Navy would write a letter on my behalf requesting a temporary or one entry visa for her to come here to attend my graduation from RTC. If anyone has any experience or input on this subject I'd greatly appreciate your input.
I dont want them to help her get the Visa per say I would like them to just write a letter saying that I am about to graduate from RTCV and that i would like the presence of my moth there. In other words, I want to know if the Navy would write a letter of that nature on Navy letterhead stating that I am graduating and I want my mother there to see me do it.
again..no. they won't aid in getting ANYBODY'S family members to Pass In Review. under any circumstances. they will not interfere with another Nation's policies regarding their citizens. Nor should they.
perhaps you can be 'adopted' by a buddy's family willing to take you off base into Gurnee or Chicago.
What do you mean by adopted by another family? I have alot of family here, but I was just referring to my mother being able to see me graduate . But thanks for your input anyway. I appreciate it.Ill keep you updated.
Just something other recruits do when a shipmate doesn't have any family coming up to see the graduation. They hang out together while on liberty.
My family "adopted" one of my shipmates after graduation. We went to dinner, to Six Flags, etc. We all had a good time and he wasn't left sitting in the barracks, or left to fend for himself. You know, that's what shipmates do.
It appears as if Jamaica will not issue a passport or exit Visa as she has no ties( property, etc) to Jamaica. I would imagine it's more a ways to prevent people from overstaying their welcome and becoming illegals in the US than it is to punish a woman who just wants to visit her kid PIR. she's just caught up in the red tape that is the government.
My mom does have a valid passport but they keep denying her the visa although every other members of my family has a visa and has travelled on it repeatedly back and forth. The government, as far as I'm concerned does not even know what their criteria are for issuing the visa. I am going to file for her as a permanent resident as soon as I get my citizenship but thats gonna take a while. just wanted her to see me graduate as she will be very proud of me.Does the Navy give the graduates invitation letters to give to their families at the time of graduation and how many family members are allowed to attend for one sailor?
Originally posted by Flamethrower53: What am I missing here? Does she have a passport? If so she should be able to obtain a visitors' visa from the US embassy to come see you graduate.
Its quite a process to apply for a visiors visa and an expensive one at that with nonrefundable fees. The fees now are $150USD = approximately 10600JMD. After appling many times over many years, it seems like it doesnt even make sense anymore as they keep telling her she does not have enough collateral. Hopefully things will change there in years to come though.
the Official limit is 4 per Recruit. In all honesty, even when they graduate a full complement, there is room for more, although I don't suggest inviting 10-12 people. I have never heard of anyone being turned away, but it may be SRO, especially when many Divisions are graduating.
the Drill hall is pretty large and can hold a fair number of bodies, but in front of each division is only a small section for families to try and get a glimpse of their Sailor.
First thing she needs to do or you can do when you get a chance is to find out if her name is on the "list". It is a list of names of people who propose a threat and sometimes it can be a common name on there, any age, any gender, etc... There was a baby on the list, along with a senator, an actor, and so forth. My brother's name is on it because. If so she can request to have it removed. This is the only reason I can figure out why it was denied at all.
If you are going to file the for Residency after you become a citizen it will take time especially through Jamaica. She needs to make sure now that she has all the necessary certificates that are original copies. It is also a costly process. She will get a Conditional Resident Card which is good for up to 2 years. Then she applies for a Permanent Resident Card which is valid for 10 years. Right now it is around $1200 for the Conditional I believe.
