THE UNITED States Embassy in Jamaica has suspended the issuing of visas until next week because of the loss of electricity and the reassignment of some consular officers to assist American citizens affected by Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
The U.S. Embassy has been closed to the public since September 9, when it shut its doors to allow staff to prepare for Hurricane Ivan.
"Like many businesses
and government agencies, we remained closed immediately following the hurricane due to loss of power," said the U.S. Embassy Office of Public Affairs in a press statement yesterday.
"In addition, consular officers based in the Visa Section were assigned to provide emergency assistance to Americans living in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands who were affected by Hurricane Ivan."
EMERGENCY SERVICES
The embassy said its American Citizen Services Section will be open for emergency services today and that it "hopes to resume normal operations on Monday, September 20, subject to demand for emergency services to American citizens in the Cayman Islands".
The embassy said American citizens in Jamaica who require emergency assistance can reach the U.S. Embassy's American Citizen Services Section at telephone (876) 929-8789 or (876) 926-3783.
