US visa loading for Vybz Kartel - source says

It looks like the rumours maybe true as a a highly-placed source in Vybz Kartel's camp confirmed to The STAR that the possibility of the entertainer getting his US visa reinstated is very real.

"Someone heard birds singing that he got it, but [we] won't celebrate until the book (passport) is in his hand," the source said.

This news comes at an opportune time for Vybz Kartel, who is nominated in the Best Reggae Album category of the Grammy Awards. The event takes place on Sunday, February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Vybz Kartel's EP Party With Me, which was released in May 2024 while the deejay was still behind bars, is one of five albums nominated in the Best Reggae Album category of the 67th Grammy Awards.

It is his first ever Grammy nomination, and it was received months after his July 2024 release from prison, having had his case quashed. His freedom came following a ruling by the Judicial Committee of Privy Council in England to overturn the conviction. A decision to retry the murder case or set Kartel and his co-appellants free was placed in the hands of the Jamaican court. The Court of Appeal decided not to retry the case, based on expense, the passage of time, and Vybz Kartel's health issues.

Vybz Kartel has been dominating headlines both before and after his release. He capped off 2024 with the historic New Year's Eve 'Freedom Street' concert at the National Arena in Kingston.

Internationally, he continued to grab headlines, with a December 30 article in the New York Times titled 'After years in prison, a dancehall star returns to the stage'.

In 2005, Kartel's US visa was revoked by the US embassy, and, as is typical, no explanation was provided. Reports suggest that this is his first US visa application since then.

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