Jamaica 🇯🇲- one year drug ban until case resumes

[WG1 3]

Our case was approved today🎉 

 
I wanted to share the experience for those who may find it helpful now or in the future. 

When it was time to reschedule the medical, they changed the way you can schedule. Previously you had to fill out a form and wait for the medical team to respond with a date and time. Now you can fill out the form and choose your own date and time.
Also emailing the embassy very detailed emails is very helpful. I believe that our case somewhat flew under the radar because the embassy had the medical results but when I emailed them initially they asked if we had completed the medical. I emailed them again with all the dates of when everything was sent and done and that is when we started to see the case moving!
 

 

[WG1 3]

On 9/9/2022 at 12:33 PM, Stmar22 said:

You were correct.  Packages are ready for pick up today.  So the entire process after the ban ended took about three months, no interview.  For some it may be quicker.  I believe ours took that long because there was also a K2, once the embassy received my fiancés medical and passport, they requested the K2’s medical after, then he had to get more vaccinations. I then had to send the records to Andrew’s.  It took about three weeks to get a medical date for the child.   
 

I think if it was only my fiancé, it would have been approved back in early July when they received his passport and medical.

 

 

Good luck everyone!  I was happy to share my experience,  because I know there is not a lot of information out there about the process after the one year ban.

Hey, I have a question. Do you remember how long was it from when you received the email/ tracking number to when the package was ready for pickup? Also did you receive the email with the tracking info the same day as your case stated “Issued”, or was it a day or two after? We just received our tracking and we are trying to get an estimate on when we would think it would be available.

[Kelly33 0]

Question, please help 
My husband was denied his VISA application because he failed the medical. His ban was May 3, 2022 to May 3, 2023. We’ve had 3 random tests so far the last 1 (May 4th). Now we’ve been emailing the embassy with no response of course. Just wanted to confirm what’s email that u use to corespondent with the embassy? National_Visa_Center@state.gov That’s the one we’ve been using…. 
we’ve been in this process since 2019 

[ashhroiall 10]

KingstonIV@state.gov 

 

this is where I communicate for Jamaica. 

And they take awhile. patience it will happen. 

[Kelly33 0]

Thank you! It’s just so frustrating not having any information. 

[Kelly33 0]

Now I’m freaking out. I just checked the status and it said Refused, last updated 5/16/23. I know for a fact that he hasn’t had so much as a cigarette since July of last year so I don’t know what to do. Does any know if the status is automatically updated once the panel processes the info without the embassy contacting u the applicant? I was hoping I’d see received or something but refused with an updated date, no! 

[ashhroiall 10]

My partner has his second medical tomorrow. He completed his one year of testing a few weeks ago. 
His status still says refused too. Dont worry. It will change once you submit a new DS160.
You will get a 221g handout requesting whatever information they want after your testing is complete. 
our 221g requested only a second medical... and another DS160, and for us to send his passport to courier services... then the medical sends the info to the embassy.
then supposedly we get a stamp after this if all goes well... 
the information is horribly limited -- communication is worse. this is literally a nightmare for most of us. 

 

 

[Kelly33 0]

Okay thank you so much, that’s reassuring! It’s just been so much. I was saying since he only did 3 urine tests maybe there’s another, he had them at 4 month intervals starting with his initial test May 2022. So technically he’s had 4 if we count the 1st test which resulted in the refusal. The whole process is just so complicated and no information. 
They didn’t even return his passport or even communicated that the visa was refused. We started going to the embassy 1 month after the interview and inquiring. Luckily we got a really great lady who told us he was denied and his passport should’ve been returned to him but for whatever reason it was still at the embassy.

after that she told us to expect a letter explaining all this mind u this was the end of June and the interview was 1st week of May. Long-story short we had to go back to the embassy a 2nd time and this time she gave us the passport and a print out of  the refusal letter in July. We then registered for the random testing and he had his 1st (well 2nd if u count the 1 in May) test in Sept 2022. 

[JenAll 3]

Hi everyone,

 

      My husband has been completed 4 random testing over the course of a year , the ban started on June 22 2022 and supposedly ended June 22, 2023. The drug testing started in October 2022. From what I have been reading, it looks we should hear from the embassy any day now, when I checked his case it was updated to June 28 2023 under refused. His last random testing was June 13 2023. However when I checked the NVC site not the ceac site I saw under my husband’s D260 that it was reopened. The link was clickable and it took me to the DS 260 application. I quickly withdrew out of that. I saw something about payment . Does that mean we got to pay that application fee again?! I hope not. 
   In addition, I got a congressman to look into my case primarily because of a call I made to Andrews medical regarding when he will get to do his medical once again. The lady said September because it has not been a year. I asked the lady why would that be since we got the information late, ( we didn’t hear from the embassy until September 14 via email when the letter said July 14) so you can imagine my disappointment. However after reading several posts on this 1 year substance abuse ban, it looks like my husband will be here before September. Thanks for giving me hope. 

[Kelly33 0]

My husband’s ban should presumably have ended 5/3/2023 but his last random test was 5/4/23. Checked the status and it was last updated on 5/16/2023 (refused). We’ve yet to hear anything from the embassy. I am hopeful that we will get that email any day now. I’ve been emailing weekly for the past 3wks

[ashhroiall 10]

I also had the same experience where our letter for our one-year ban stated it started October 28, 2021, but it was delivered to us on January 9. The holiday season was a 2-month delay. We sent it over to Andrew’s on Jan 20th 2022. So when October 2022 came around we were so excited that we were close and were again disappointed when we found out the one year actually started from our first test which wasn’t until February 2022. 

 

So we are still waiting, it’s August 2023. We started this in September of 2020.... Talk about a ###### disaster. Been raising our daughter alone this whole time...over stupid "admitted past use".

He has his 2nd official medical last week and our status still says rejected too. 
I sent an email to the embassy yesterday if they were going to update our status or if they needed anything else. they said

"This file is currently under review.  As soon as the case is concluded, contact will be made."

So vague so lame. We filed an additional DS160 (as we are a k1 visa) and were told not to worry about another interview. So fingers crossed we will hear any day now. 

I know they update ceac anytime they touch the case. So it's always good to see the date move even if it says rejected. 

[Pinkrlion 2,715]

When emailing Jamaica always put in the subject line 2nd inquiry with your KNG number. They get thousands of email daily. 

[Kelly33 0]

KingstonIV@state.gov 
That’s the email we’ve been using with only the generic automated response which is better than the previous email that generated no response (thnk u @ashhroiall for that info by the way)…. Is this the email u use? 

[ashhroiall 10]

Yep, same email! But as PinkLion mentioned -- always put KNG# in the subject line. And I've always gotten a response from them after a few tries at that email -- it just takes them a while. I tend to only send one email every 2 weeks (and ONLY when there is actually something to follow up on).  It doesn't help to overwhelm them worse than they already are. Their answers are always short tho -- and never extra info. 

And since I left that last message here, my case date was updated in CEAC today (the last update was 2 days ago when they sent me an email). 

But still says rejected... ####### ARE THEY DOING BEHIND THE SCENES -- I just want them to hurry the f up. 

[Kelly33 0]

Yes I always have case number I even include the invoice ID haha but only ever gotten the generic response. In subject I usually put immigrant visa though, will put 2nd inquiry when I send my weekly email haha…. I think I understand now though his 1yr band would’ve started in Sept when he did the 1st random test and not May when the case was eligible to reopen. Idk just drawing assumptions from the responses here. This forum is such a huge help! Thanks for all ur responses