Q: I am going to the United States again this summer to work in a hotel kitchen in a tourist resort. When I received my passport and visa it included a pamphlet called ‘Know Your Rights’. My friends want to know why I received this pamphlet, because none of them received one with their regular tourist visas. Who receives these pamphlets?

A: If you are coming to the United States to work or study, we are confident that you will have a pleasant and rewarding stay. If you should encounter any problems, however, know that you have rights and can get help. The pamphlet informs you of your rights as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories. The US Government created this pamphlet at the prompting of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (Public Law 110-457), which reaffirms and strengthens the US Government’s commitment to fight human trafficking and labour abuses. It is important that you take the time to read this pamphlet carefully. In doing so, you will learn about your rights and protections in the United States, as well as resources available to you if help is needed.

You will not be denied a visa or be punished by the US Government because you have exercised your rights under US laws. To the contrary, the US Government wants all temporary workers and employers to operate according to the laws of the United States, and encourages you to report any violations. If your recruiter, crewleader, supervisor, or employer tells you that you will be denied a visa for exercising your legal rights, it is not true. Please call the national trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to report this type of abuse or visit

www.traffickingresourcecenter.org.

The Department of State has also prepared an informational video in response to section 1206 of the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The video complements the Wilberforce Pamphlet. You can find a link to the video and to a copy of the pamphlet at:

travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/rights-protections-temporary-workers.html. We wish you well at your summer employment!

Reminder

Reminder

Your appointment time is your arrival time, NOT your interview time. Do not show up earlier than your appointment time.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on the embassy’s website at

kingston.usembassy.gov

and the website of our authorised service provider at

usvisa-info.com. Keep on top of embassy news on ourFacebookpage,facebook.com/pages/USEmbassy- Jamaica, and by following@USEmbassyJAonTwitter. We also answer general visa questions on ourFacebookandTwitterpages.

You may also send your questions to:editorial@ jamaicaobserver.comto be forwarded to the embassy.

You may also send your questions to:

editorial@ jamaicaobserver.com

to be forwarded to the embassy.