Verify your agency (this is the big one)

Jamaica is the ONLY market where the agency list has legal teeth: since January 1, 2025, the US Embassy refuses J-1 applications that name a recruiter not registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The MLSS list currently carries 73 approved agencies (about 41 offering J-1 programs). Before you pay anyone — even a small JMD registration fee — check the MLSS list AND verify the agency's US sponsor on j1visa.state.gov. Two more things worth knowing: MLSS rules require registered agencies to refund the bulk of your program fees if your visa is denied (get the percentage in writing), and applying directly through a US sponsor is also allowed — sometimes at a lower total cost than the local-agency route. Compare both.