Jamaica Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Jamaica for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
For a U.S. marriage green card, Jamaican applicants need a birth certificate and marriage certificate from the Registrar General's Department plus a police certificate from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and because everything is issued in English there is nothing to translate for USCIS.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Jamaican spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. The documents are in English, so nothing needs translating.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy of the record as issued.
- Documents are in English
Jamaica issues these records in English, so there is nothing to translate.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants a certified long-form RGD birth certificate for the immigrant spouse. Order it early because a late-registered or hard-to-locate entry can add weeks.
How to get it: Order online at the RGD portal (rgd.gov.jm), in person at an RGD office or Tax Office islandwide, or from overseas through a Jamaican embassy or consulate. Online applicants need their birth entry number and a credit card.
- Issued by
- Registrar General's Department (RGD)
- Cost
- From overseas, approx US$55 (ordinary, about 6 weeks) or US$85 (express, 7 to 10 working days). In Jamaica, approx JMD 7,500 same-day or JMD 6,000 next-day.
- Timing
- Approx 7 to 10 working days on the express tier; about 4 to 6 weeks for ordinary service, longer if the RGD has to search for or correct an entry.
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Anyone 16 or older who is immigrating generally needs a police certificate. The certificate must be recent, so time the request close to your interview or biometrics rather than pulling it too early.
How to get it: Pay the fee via Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ Online or the TAJ app), then file the application in the Police Certificate Application Management System (PCAMS) at cro.jcfcorporatespecialservices.org. Applicants living abroad have a full set of fingerprints taken by their local police (or an authorized agency), stamped and signed, and submit those with the application.
- Issued by
- Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Criminal Records Office
- Cost
- Approx JMD 3,000 (regular, about 21 days), JMD 6,000 (express, about 5 days), or JMD 8,000 (next-day). Fingerprinting in Jamaica is approx JMD 1,500; fingerprinting done abroad is charged by the local provider.
- Timing
- Approx 5 days on the express tier and about 21 days for regular service, plus mailing time if you are overseas.
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: Only an RGD-issued marriage certificate is accepted; U.S. authorities reject church, hotel, or officiant-issued marriage papers that are not registered with the RGD.
How to get it: Order the certified copy from the RGD (online at rgd.gov.jm, in person, or via a Jamaican embassy/consulate) the same way as a birth certificate. If you have never been married and are marrying in the U.S., you instead provide a sworn statutory declaration (affidavit) of single status; a Jamaican Certificate of No Impediment is used for marrying inside Jamaica, not for a U.S. filing.
- Issued by
- Registrar General's Department (RGD)
- Cost
- From overseas, approx US$55 (ordinary) or US$85 (express) for a certified set. In Jamaica, approx JMD 7,500 same-day or JMD 6,000 next-day.
- Timing
- Same as birth certificates: approx 7 to 10 working days express, about 4 to 6 weeks ordinary.
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Jamaica is a Contracting Party to the Hague Apostille Convention, which entered into force for Jamaica on 3 July 2021. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade issues apostilles. That said, for a U.S. marriage green card filed with USCIS you generally do not need an apostille or legalization at all; certified original RGD and JCF documents are what USCIS asks for. |
| How records are kept | Births, marriages, and deaths are held in one centralized national registry run by the Registrar General's Department, with an online ordering portal at rgd.gov.jm. |
| Typical time to gather | Plan on roughly 1 to 2 weeks per document if you use express service, or 4 to 6 weeks on ordinary service, plus international mailing time. |
| Translation | Jamaican civil documents are issued in English, so no translation is required for USCIS. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Jamaica. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from Jamaica that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Registrar General's Department (RGD) | Approx US$55 ordinary / US$85 express from overseas | Order online at rgd.gov.jm (needs birth entry number), in person, or via a Jamaican consulate |
| Marriage Certificate | Registrar General's Department (RGD) | Approx US$55 ordinary / US$85 express from overseas | Order from the RGD; only RGD-registered marriage certificates are accepted |
| Divorce Decree (Decree Absolute) | Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica | Court/copy fee (varies); confirm with the court registry | Request a certified copy of the Decree Absolute from the Supreme Court registry that granted the divorce |
| Death Certificate | Registrar General's Department (RGD) | Approx US$55 ordinary / US$85 express from overseas | Order from the RGD; used to show a prior spouse is deceased |
| Police Certificate | Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Criminal Records Office | Approx JMD 3,000 regular / JMD 6,000 express (plus approx JMD 1,500 fingerprints) | Pay via TAJ Online, apply in PCAMS; overseas applicants submit stamped, signed fingerprints |
Go deeper: detailed Jamaica guides
Step-by-step guides for the specific documents and steps in a Jamaica marriage green card case.
- Jamaican Birth and Marriage Certificates (RGD)The computer-generated Birth Registration Form and Marriage Register on A4 security paper, the 92% photocopy / serial-number rule, ordering from the RGD online or by mail, and why no apostille or translation is needed.
- Jamaica Police CertificateThe Jamaica Constabulary Force police record from the Criminal Records Office at 56 Duke Street: who needs it, the validity window the embassy expects, applying from inside the U.S., and how criminal-record questions route to an attorney.
- Kingston Panel Physician and Medical ExamThe single embassy-designated medical facility in Kingston: booking, fees, what to bring, the exam components and required vaccinations, and how results reach the embassy before your interview.
- Kingston Interview Trip LogisticsDay-of guide for the U.S. Embassy Kingston immigrant visa interview: registering your appointment online, the medical-before-interview sequence, what to bring, the electronics policy, where to stay, and passport return.
- Common 221(g) Refusals at KingstonWhat a 221(g) is (a pause, not a denial) and its three tracks: document deficiency, administrative processing, and medical hold. How to submit documents afterward, typical timeframes, and when to involve an attorney.
What applicants report
“Applicants repeatedly warn that the fastest path is to pay for RGD express service and to sort out the JCF police record early, since overseas fingerprints and a slow RGD entry search are the two things that most often stall a Jamaica case. They also flag that when you photocopy an RGD certificate you should shrink it to about 92 percent so the serial numbers are not clipped.”
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See how it worksFrequently asked questions
Do Jamaican documents need to be translated for USCIS?
No. Jamaica's birth, marriage, death, and police documents are issued in English, so no translation is required for a U.S. marriage green card.
Do I need an apostille on my Jamaican birth or marriage certificate?
Usually not for a USCIS marriage green card. Jamaica joined the Apostille Convention in 2021 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade can issue apostilles, but USCIS generally accepts certified original RGD and JCF documents without an apostille or legalization. This is general information, not legal advice, so follow the specific instructions on your notice.
Where do I get a Jamaican police certificate if I live in the U.S.?
Have a full set of fingerprints taken by an authorized police department or agency where you live, get them stamped and signed, pay the fee through Tax Administration Jamaica, and file the application in the JCF's PCAMS system online.
What if I have never been married?
If you have no prior marriage and are marrying in the U.S., you typically provide a sworn statutory declaration (affidavit) of single status rather than a certificate. A Jamaican Certificate of No Impediment is meant for getting married inside Jamaica, not for a U.S. filing.
How long does it take to get my documents from the RGD?
Roughly 7 to 10 working days on express service or about 4 to 6 weeks on ordinary service, plus international mailing time. Order early in case the RGD has to search for or correct your entry.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Jamaican applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Jamaica is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- ✓
Jamaica documents are issued in English, so there is nothing to translate for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Jamaica draw closer scrutiny.
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