Jamaican Residency

Hello Friends,

This question perhaps has been asked many times before but due to my uncertainties in life here in New England I am am very interested in knowing what the requirements are and the Red Tape involved in the process of applying for and receiving Jamaican Residency???

I am in no way making any political statement here only considering other options for the future. For you Canadians I wonder if you are aware of the offer that was made by Cape Breton, Nova Scotia as far as a immigration goes. Canada certainly is a beautiful country but a hot climate for at least 6 or 8 months of the year are quite appealing to me. I have no immediate interest in any other Caribbean islands with the exception of possibly Cuba which probably is close to impossible at the moment to being able as a foreigner to purchase property.

I appreciate any and all comments and suggestions and again am totally against making this into any form of political discussion.

Thanks,
johng




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Johng...here's an useful link...describes exactly what is required for permanent residency here...

http://www.pica.gov.jm/immigration/g...ent-residence/

"...but due to my uncertainty about the future path of The United States..."

Hummmmm, you maybe should have left this sentence out if you didn't want to make a political statement. Just saying.

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Originally Posted by Lax1724

"...but due to my uncertainty about the future path of The United States..."

Hummmmm, you maybe should have left this sentence out if you didn't want to make a political statement. Just saying.

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LOL !

But seriously folks, please leave the USA politics to other internet platforms.

Thank you!

Lax1724,

I would have posed the question the same if the other future path existed but if it makes you feel better I'll edit my post

Seriously Rob,

There must have been reasons you chose to migrate to Jamaica. I ask a simple question and thanks Bnewb for the link.

I think my question was straight forward and I have edited it to appease those who might want to politicize this despite my request otherwise.

LOL !

johng,

No disrespect intended man. Your question was straight forward, but I wanted to de-politicize it asap. The focus of Negril.com is Negril and Jamaica. And residency is a perfectly legit question. In addition to Lisa's link, be sure to check out the Living In Jamaica board here. There are some great threads there as well.

I got a chuckle out of the "uncertainty about the future path of The United States" comment. I have been in Negril hearing about the uncertainty of the future path of the USA when George II was elected, then re-elected and when Obama was elected. Thus my chuckle, seems the more things change the more they stay the same at times.

I moved here for many reasons, politics included, but that played a very minor role. Next time in Negril, lets share a cold one in Red Ground and we can talk about everything we desire. On second thought, maybe make that a cold one or two... (grin)

John, I've looked into this out of sheer, but serious, curiosity. It seems near impossible for me to immigrate to Jamaica and become a permanent resident. My next best option would be trying to get a work visa, which also seems near impossible in my field. I'm no where near retirement age, and hope to have the volume of cash it will take to sustain a residence once I do!!! I'm still holding out for the possibility of finding a job on the island. It's a slim chance, and nothing I'd be able to do in the next year anyway, but it's something I'm working on, even if in my head and heart!!!

I know there are a lot of political, medical/healthcare, social, and economic policies and norms I am totally unaware of as a visitor, so I look for every way possible to learn about these things when I return and while I wait to return. I'm sure you have done the same!!!! Best of luck with your dream!!!!

I held residency from 1969 to 1986.

I'm told it would be very easy for me to get it again.

However, At age 74 I can't imagine I'll be spending more that 100 days a year on Zion Hill

Cap

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captaind & Linston

I held residency from 1969 to 1986.

I'm told it would be very easy for me to get it again.

However, At age 74 I can't imagine I'll be spending more that 100 days a year on Zion Hill

Cap

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Cap,

Cho, you would be "great-grandfathered" in... (grin)

This would not apply to new applicants.

Sooo....... All I have to do is marry a Jamaican ???? :)

I dream about this all the time - being able to grow/raise/spear everything I need to eat, no 2kg boots, no snowblower, wearing out work machetes. I figure I could learn to live without an endless supply of Costco paper towels - then I wonder what I would do about healthcare and I am snapped back to reality. But real mangoes, almonds and goat meat! back into the dream....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captaind & Linston

However, At age 74 I can't imagine I'll be spending more that 100 days a year on Zion Hill

Cap

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I totally relate to this post. When I was spending 6 months at a time in Jamaica I was (for the most part) either living on or near a beach or on otherwise flat land. I am a few years younger but I can't imagine spending more than 100 days a year on Hilltop Road in Accompong Town.

The physical rigors of the up and down the hills takes it's toll and sometimes 100 days feels like a year.

Living a mere 1hr and 40 min from Jamaica in Florida gives me the best of both worlds.

There are just some things that need to be done that become too much of a problem in Jamaica.

I will continue to travel once or twice a year to Jamaica for 90 days each time until I am no longer able to do so.

Living full time in Jamaica; 365 days a year no longer interests me.

Peace and Guidance

Thanks Rob and everybody else. Does marrying a Jamaican lead to automatic Green Card / Residency in JA or are there still lots of roadblocks in the way??

Odinson, The question is quantity or quality??? Do you want to live a long long time with a less than great quality of life or do you want to enjoy the years you have left having fun and being in a place you really want to be. Off the beaten path in JA you can buy land much less expensive than most everywhere in the US. Depending on who you live with (Family or alone) you can build a really nice place for way less than NA. That is the tough choice. All this is based on getting your paperwork.

I have a friend in the states who I have traveled to JA many times and we often have this conversation. I think being without a lot of money would be easier to deal with in JA then the same situation here. Out in the country you can grow your own food and herbs, fruits, vegetables, etc.. Even the downtrodden in JA are often happy despite their plight. We're not talking downtown in a city but in the country or mountains or even Negril if you can figure out how to do it.


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I think that it is a kind of a natural mystic kind of feeling ...........:cool:to dream .........>>about living in paradise

johng.

Just as in most countries, it is not automatic. There are forms to file, fees to pay and interviews to attend.

Have fun! (grin)

Haha, I'm not saying marrying a Jamaican is out of the question! Now, to find the right guy! Hahahahha


I have to say, I disagree that living with less would be a easier in JA. The start up fees would be killer! After that, you could probably do with less. And of course, having a good back up fund for when things go south with your crops and livestock! Living with less is difficult anywhere! Speaking realistically... of course, I see your implied point.

and...........always remember>>>if you have the money............you can do anything>>>>..<<<....when one door is closed...>
many more r open

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Originally Posted by johng

Odinson, The question is quantity or quality??? Do you want to live a long long time with a less than great quality of life or do you want to enjoy the years you have left having fun and being in a place you really want to be. Off the beaten path in JA you can buy land much less expensive than most everywhere in the US. Depending on who you live with (Family or alone) you can build a really nice place for way less than NA. That is the tough choice. All this is based on getting your paperwork.

I have a friend in the states who I have traveled to JA many times and we often have this conversation. I think being without a lot of money would be easier to deal with in JA then the same situation here. Out in the country you can grow your own food and herbs, fruits, vegetables, etc.. Even the downtrodden in JA are often happy despite their plight. We're not talking downtown in a city but in the country or mountains or even Negril if you can figure out how to do it.


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It all sounds so nice.... in a Polyanna sort of way but the realities of living in Jamaica are not as easy as one thinks. We all have a little knowledge about Negril and the high cost of living there.

From your post I don't know if you are talking about Negril or somewhere out on the island. You talk about land being cheaper so I assume you mean in rural Jamaica so I will limit this comment to "off the beaten path" as you put it.

The fact is that as a foreigner buying a piece of property and building a house in those areas can be quite dangerous. Even returning Jamaican residents become targets when they bring their foreign-earned money home and build a house even in their own original community.

Being without a lot of money in Jamaica is not (in my opinion) easier that being at home without lots of money. You ask Odinson if it is Quantity or Quality?? That begs the assumption that living in Jamaica might not bring you "Quantity" of life but rather "Quality".

In my community a lot of people are poor as a church mouse but live into their 90's. I think a good number would trade some years to live a better Quality of life like having more money etc. Not everyone considers living a long time "Quality" by scratching out an existence; growing their own food, herbs etc.

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Even the downtrodden in JA are often happy despite their plight.

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For the life of me, I can't understand that statement. "downtrodden"? "plight"? You say you are not talking about the cities so can you explain what you mean by those two terms? Are you saying "poor Jamaicans are happy"? I would guess that they are not happy being poor but rather happy to be alive rather than the alternative.

I think that marrying a Jamaican for residency is probably the easiest way to get the residence but I also think, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!"

Just my opinion.

Wow, where do I start??? I feel like I have to defend myself about simple honest comments that I have made.

The Downtrodden in JA are happy despite their plight: Speaking about country folk who posses far more optimism about their situations in life than many Americans do is the basis for my comment. These are often people very poor in a monetary sense but not in a life sense. They make the best of the situation. The positive vibrations of Jamaica are known worldwide.

Odinson dreaming about life in Jamaica and then being snapped back to the reality of Healthcare. Well as I stated this is with the assumption one has been through the residency process and it had been successfully achieved. We all will one day die, yes I am sure somebody will argue that point too, so the question is does one achieve his / her dreams by going for it or sit around wondering what if??? That I hope clarifies any confusion about my meaning of quantity vs quality. As Peter Tosh said "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die". His words not mine!!

The very topic about the lack of essential emergency services thread from a few weeks ago I believe Accompong you had commented on how you have several health issues and that you would choose Mandeville Hospital if you had the time to get there. You have the good fortune to be able to travel back in forth between Florida and JA. You do have the best of both worlds.

Buying land and building a home can be dangerous, yes that is true but so is there danger everywhere and someone making the effort to get his / her residency would, I hope have a grasp on what they are getting themselves into. But I argue your point as being your personal opinion not necessarily backed by facts. The high murder rate in JA I do not believe is fueled by murdering new land owners who build a house, yes perhaps it happens but random violence is universal.

Jamaican women are awesome (my opinion) and if the circumstances were right (and I wasn't already married) it would be well worth checking out.

Last but not least landing on your feet in Negril in today's economy and world probably would be a large challenge unless one had a substantial amount of cash. Like anywhere the further one moves away from a higher cost of living area (The resort town of Negril) the greater the opportunity to find a cool spot that works for them. So dream on folks and hopefully we all find a place that makes us happy!!


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right on JOHNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>https://youtu.be/CHekNnySAfM

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Originally Posted by johng

Buying land and building a home can be dangerous, yes that is true but so is there danger everywhere and someone making the effort to get his / her residency would, I hope have a grasp on what they are getting themselves into.

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JohnG...since you were addressing Accompong, Accompong may address the rest of your post if he so chooses...I could write for days on this topic and I'm sure you can imagine what Rob could share after 25 years.

But, I'd like to simply comment on the line that you wrote above.
One of the most common problems is exactly in what you mentioned...unfortunately, many don't have a grasp on what they're getting into and Accompong only touched on it ever so slightly.

Live the dream but live it wisely!

johng,

What I wrote was not a personal attack and it wasn't meant as a challenge for you to defend. Whenever anyone makes sweeping statements that I consider counter to my experiences or those of others I know personally, I simply voice my opinion. Nothing more.

I didn't comment on other parts of your statement because I don't have enough personal experience enough to know if they are generally accurate or not. I only pointed out that living in remote, rural areas even for Jamaicans relocating from affaren or corporate areas can be quite dangerous. Not necessarily from loss of life but praedial larceny, theft and intimidation. A foreigner living his dream in those areas can even present more challenges. Access to markets for the things you grow can be difficult and higglers who come to you to buy often "extort" (my word) bratta from the seller. An example: If you want to sell 100 pounds of yams, the buyers want 12 pounds take away to make the deal. In other words, you have to give 112 pounds to sell 100. This is very common in rural areas.

I don't know much about living in areas like Negril so I didn't comment on that other than say it is expensive. Perhaps there you can fit in more easily if you have enough money to throw at the problems you most probably will encounter.

Marrying a Jamaican for residency is, of course, against the law but hard to prove if that was the reason for the marriage. My advice to anyone considering this would be not to do it but, if you did, make sure you get your Jamaican residency before bringing that significant other to your home country. "Opportunity is a scarce, scarce commodity" and once someone gets that opportunity their need to reciprocate diminishes.

Furthermore, it is hard to comment on your post because I don't know of your actual experiences in Jamaica. I know you have gone many times (I think) over many years as have I but I don't know if you have extensive experience in living rural for longer than a few weeks at a time.

I have a neighbor here in Accompong Town which will go unnamed. He fell in love with Accompong Town and in lust with a local woman. A marriage ensued and soon she went to the US and he subsequently came on trips to build his dream cottages on family land. The cottages are here, he is not. Her dream has come true and his dream has turned into a nightmare surrounded by tall weeds and macca. Many a dream has ended up this way.

Of course, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do with a move to Jamaica. The first six months are the hardest and the next six months a little better. If you have the resources to last that first year without any income or return on your investment or crops, you have a good chance to make it.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Peace and Guidance

Well thanks Accompong glad to know some of your thoughts relative to points of view. My original comments suggested finding an alternative to New England weather and the Yankee mindset. Very difficult to understand if you have never lived here. Winters can be very cold from November through May in some instances. Finding a place to go for those months would be nice. I do not think I said a 12 month resident but if permanent residency is required for more than 90 days than so be it. I have a large lot in north east New England that is beautiful in almost every way but as I previously noted would be perfect from May through November, 7 months. So if I can find Paradise South to go with Paradise North I'll be in great shape. I have lived in Jamaica several times for 6 to 8 weeks at a stretch mostly in Portland in the Mountains. From 1975 through current day I have entered JA at least 40 times the shortest stay being 2 weeks.


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Johng...you can stay up to 180 days in a calendar year as a visitor...permanent residency is not required for this amount of time.
The Jamaican airport immigration will stamp you for no more than 90 days...you then may request an extension of stay for another 90 (or less) days at the Montego Bay or Kingston immigration services...extra fees & requirements involved.

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Originally Posted by johng

Off the beaten path in JA you can buy land much less expensive than most everywhere in the US. Depending on who you live with (Family or alone) you can build a really nice place for way less than NA.

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Can you actually build for less? Everything I've seen (which admittedly isn't a great deal) would make me think that construction costs would be higher due to costlier materials and finishings. Labor is cheaper, of course, but with most materials being imported I've always understood costs to be higher by the time the project is completed. (Of course that assumes construction of a house roughly on NA standards.)

jon c,

The costs to build are not necessarily higher, the labour costs can make up for any higher costs of materials and finishing. The real problem is when the owner does not do their "homework" and ends up spending much more for materials and labour. I have seen many foreigners receive incredible information from credible local contractors and even other successful foreigners here, only to see them ignore that excellent advice. The owner can end up paying triple the cost for not following that assistance. Do your homework and please listen to others who know the business or have been there before and have been successful.

everything is relative>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...you can build anything for" less" ......................how much work are you willing to do
:confused:

i might even come help you >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...i will>>>if you buy the beer

So to confirm, if u r American and own Jamaican apartment, have a TRN and pay Jamaican property taxes u can only stay maximum 6 months in calendar year or u have to follow residency process?

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Originally Posted by OneLoveOneBlood

So to confirm, if u r American and own Jamaican apartment, have a TRN and pay Jamaican property taxes u can only stay maximum 6 months in calendar year or u have to follow residency process?

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Yes, same policy as the USA has for citizens of 38 countries. FYI, Jamaica is not one of them. These other countries citizens have to apply for a visa to visit their property. It is not automatically granted.

I have explored this option over the past couple of years. I realized as a couple others have mentioned that when you factor in all the difficulties it is simply not for me. Just like ACCOMPONG said l believe living in Florida and taking a short flight and staying for 30 days a year is my happy place.

I checked into residency last year and found out that because I receive a government pension the path was quite easy. A friend of mine also checked into the process and was told because he didn't have a pension or enough liquid assets he was denied. I have another friend from the US that owns two properties in and around NEGRIL. While these places are beautiful what he goes thru to maintain and just live a normal life seems like a lot of work to me. I live 5 mins off the coast in FL and I have a lot of the benefits of Caribbean life without a lot of the headaches. My life just seems a whole lot easier and I can go to JA and get my NEGRIL fix. On my last trip towards the end of the trip I was mentally ready to come home.

I found that if I were ever to become an ex-pat I would probably put Belize at the top of my list over JA. Again it comes down to financial situation, but Belize has an excellent ex-pat and pensioner program that offers many rewards for putting money into their country.

I don't see myself ever leaving the Nature Coast of FL for more than 30 to maybe 60 days a year though as I believe I have found my happy space.

Good luck to all and remember this saying and I believe it applies now more than ever in our interesting times "When all is said and done, a lot more is said than done." The sky is not falling in. Cheers!

This is an interesting thread I got my residency almost two years ago. That in itself was a total nightmare. The thing about jamaica is you can live here 25 years and even get citizenship but you will never be a jamaican or accepted as one. You will have ja friends who will say you are and treat you that way but when you are alone you are just another white man. Aubee is the one who shared that thought with me and a few others. It's not easy to live here kinda like Tombstone in the 1800s. Don't be fooled by all the smiling faces it's a very very hard life here for jamaicans 99% of them would leave here in a heart beat and never return. Just some thoughts from a tired old man trying to survive in an insane world.

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Originally Posted by eddiemingus

This is an interesting thread I got my residency almost two years ago. That in itself was a total nightmare. The thing about jamaica is you can live here 25 years and even get citizenship but you will never be a jamaican or accepted as one. You will have ja friends who will say you are and treat you that way but when you are alone you are just another white man. Aubee is the one who shared that thought with me and a few others. It's not easy to live here kinda like Tombstone in the 1800s. Don't be fooled by all the smiling faces it's a very very hard life here for jamaicans 99% of them would leave here in a heart beat and never return. Just some thoughts from a tired old man trying to survive in an insane world.

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Thank you for putting into words almost exactly my thoughts on living here in Jamaica... especially rural Jamaica.

Same here... about 25 years and blessed with very good friends but could only really count on one or two if it was me that needed the help they expect from me. This is not putting Jamaica or Jamaicans down. It is just a fact IMHO that Jamaica runs like a clunky old piece of machinery. It sputters and spits but it keeps grinding on with some crazy form of precision. Jamaicans have learned over the years to adapt to differences that we as outsiders will never truly understand.

I am told nearly daily that I am "almost" a Jamaican because I have learned how to adapt to rural Jamaican life. My word is not given often but when I do, I follow through at whatever cost. I have pretty much learned when to bite my tongue and agree with a nod even when I don't really agree. These are not things that can be mastered with only casual contact a couple of times a year just like with our friends back home.

I favor the idea of more people coming to Jamaica to live as long as they come with their eyes wide open and not mesmerized by Robinson Crusoe inspired ideas of living off the land and having a man Friday. Every year I return I know of more people getting VISAs and leaving Jamaica and most are more educated and better off than the ones that can't qualify. That void needs to be filled by people from affaren who have those skill sets.

I am satisfied to spend my up to 6 months a year here in Jamaica and the remainder on the beautiful East Coast of Florida.

Peace and Guidance

I think a lot of people who love Jamaica at one time or another think, ''oh, wouldn't it be great to live here."" I know enough people that do, that would tell you it sounds a lot
better than it is.
''LIving there,'' is not the same as lounging around on the beach, and going out to places to eat and drink everyday. And even if you are a ''country person'' I can only imagine
how much more difficult it would be to live in conditions that would present itself.
I know someone from US, that married a Jamaican. lasted 5 years, and had had enough. Moved back , now married and living separately.

I know I could never, as I would miss my family way to much, but I'm satisfied to just have a great place like Negril , to look forward to going to a couple times a year, and realize how
lucky I am just to do that !!

Everyone's experience is different as we are all different people.

As one who has actually been here for 25 years full time I find the comments interesting, but not unusual.

Eddie, alone or not, I am a white man. Had I been born in a non white family, when I am alone I would be what ever race I was born. I am not sure what the "white man" statement has to do with anything.

Jamaica is a diverse country. There are Jamaicans of virtually every possible heritage and mix of those heritages.

Norval Marley, Bob's father was a white Jamaican born in Sussex, England. When he was alone he was a white man, but still a Jamaican and father of the most famous Jamaican. No disrespect to Usain Bolt.

And possibly the fact I have been living here daily and started a business, dealing with the
sputtering and spitting as Accompong calls it, I am not outside of but right in the middle of the action and understand it.

When you move here, you make choices everyday that will effect your future. That is because it goes both ways. You are moving to a new country and the locals have to deal with a new person living among them.

Consider it a test if you will. It isn't just about your struggles relocating. Your neighbors and the surrounding area don't know you yet and have to find out what kind of person you are and how far they can trust you. They need to find out what kind of person you are inside. Life is hard here and most of the Jamaicans you meet have been lied to by many foreigners. They need to learn about you by the actions you take.

In an emergency, will you be a help or a hindrance? Are you a hard worker (or have been) and do you value earnings or do you throw money around without regard? Are you a socially public person or do you keep to yourself? What hidden vices may you enjoy? And in today's world, what kind of things do you post on the Internet?

This process takes years, not weeks or months. At less than two years, you still have a long way to go. At five years, you have just begun to allow the locals to know the kind of person you are. At 10 years the locals know who you are and will treat you accordingly.

And Tombstone in the 1800's? None of us were there so I don't even know what to say about that except I never read anything about cars, motorcycles, electricity or cellphones being in use back then.

My experiences are different. I don't hang around the ex pat crowd, I find too much dwelling on the negative and things you cannot change . Virtually all my friends are Jamaicans. Together we laugh, we cry, we celebrate, we mourn. We have discussions and even arguments. But I count on all of them when times get tough and help them when they need it.

I recently got in an accident with a route taxi. As I am sure many of you have heard it is always the foreigner who pays. But Jamaican witnesses came to my defense since it was the taxi driver's fault. Some of them I didn't even personally know. The taxi owner paid all the damages to both vehicles.

Acceptance is something you earn. And there are no guarantees that you will earn it. I know of some ex pats who have been here for decades and still have problems. I have found that you tend to be treated the way you treat others.

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Originally Posted by Accompong

I have pretty much learned when to bite my tongue and agree with a nod even when I don't really agree. These are not things that can be mastered with only casual contact a couple of times a year just like with our friends back home.

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Living here full time might make the difference, but I have only been told once to "bite my tongue" in my ten years here. I was given unsolicited "advice" by a white man (North American expat)...I had seen him around town but didn't really know much about him. He told me that as a white female, that I should never open my mouth down here, to keep to myself and not share my opinions. I was stunned, upset and puzzled...though I had a pretty good idea he was wrong...
I asked my Jamaican friends in the area about his advice, and they told me to ignore him because "he's an idiot". I later found out he had married a very young Jamaican woman (she left him) and had been in Negril for about two years...he was also struggling to live here and having many problems in the area. I should have realized this as he was so horribly negative about most things down here.

I've learned to take any advice or information given with a grain of salt (of course there's sources I respect), learned it's okay to open my mouth and have an opinion...but just like anywhere it's best to listen and learn first and get a good grip on your environment before you start judging and sharing those opinions.

Live the dream but live it wisely!

AMEN................... hi lisa..miss me yet:cool:

The first time I had a private chat with my current wife, I told her "I'm going to retire in Jamaica." Now that I'm retired, we stay in Negril for an extended time in the winter, but I really like where I live in the mild weather seasons. We especially like our home and bed!

We have friends who stay even longer than we do. One couple stays almost 90 days way out on the west end in a rental cabin and another couple own a home they had built up in the hills near Green Island, stay long enough that they have to renew their visas. I find neither all that attractive. After overhearing a conversation at Tree House about land for sale, the home owners spent years acquiring the property, years more introducing themselves to the local builders, building a road that is impassable and finally their home. It's a beautiful home with a view of the 7 mile beach, but too remote for my taste.

In any event, you can rent a nice place in Negril for less than a mortgage payment in foreign, and bnewb notes stay up to 180 days/year. Why bother with permanent residence and owning a home? Respect --Marblehead

In any event, you can rent a nice place in Negril for less than a mortgage payment in foreign, and bnewb notes stay up to 180 days/year. Why bother with permanent residence and owning a home? Respect --Marblehead <<< Agree with ya on that one! Plus you could rent a few months here and then move to another location on da island and try it out in that Parish. IMO