The United States Embassy in Kingston has cut, with immediate effect, walk-in visa services and has asked applicants to make appointments electronically.

In a statement yesterday, the embassy said the new procedure was being implemented to better serve all those applying for U.S. visas.

The new procedure will be applicable to all non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants from Jamaica and The Cayman Islands, including tourists, students, skilled workers, and crew members. The embassy said applicants must schedule interview appointments online through the embassy appointment system.

No handwritten forms

Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has mandated that all NIV applicants must have their application forms filled out electronically. Handwritten forms will no longer be accepted. Electronic versions of all application forms can be found at http://evisaforms.state.gov.

For those having trouble filling out forms electronically, Paymaster and other local services will assist for nominal fees, said the embassy.

Meanwhile, the embassy said NIV applicants who have genuine emergencies should now send a request via email to kingston visa@state.gov or by fax to 935-6019. This email address and fax number are for emergency appointment requests only. Other inquiries will not be answered. All other inquiries may be sent to consularkingst@state.gov.

If an applicant has an emergency, said the embassy, he or she also must make an appointment through the online appointment system to guarantee an interview.

"Changes have been made to these procedures to ensure that applicants are processed more quickly from the time they apply for the visa until the time they come to the embassy for the interview," said the statement.