Visa needed to visit Ocho Rios? The voice note that started the fad

If you have noticed your Facebook Timeline blowing up with hashtag #OchiVisa, you may be wondering if you now need a visa to visit the tourist town.

The answer is No.

Ocho Rios is still accessible to all Jamaicans and there are no visa requirements to visit other parishes or towns within parishes-like Ocho Rios  

So what’s up with all the people on your timeline, proclaiming to know a hook up on how to get an Ocho Rios visa, or showing off fake stamped passbooks with an Ocho Rios visa inside?

It is simply a passing fad that resulted from a voice note that went viral.
 
In the one-minute forty-three-second long voice note, a telephone conversation is recorded between two people talking about buying hair extensions among other things.

However, the simple conversation takes an interesting turn that has sparked an uproar of laughter on social media, when one of the persons audible in the voice recording asks the other, “So, where you from?  You is a Jamaican? Where you from New York or where?

To which the other person responded, “Mi live a Jamaica yes, but me nuh deh a Jamaica right now, me deh a Ochi”

Shared thousands of time on social media, the voice note has sparked a variety of memes, jokes, photos and other social media accessory around the resort town – making the Ochi Visa a ‘ thing’ or better yet a passing fad.

“Going to try to get my Ochi visa caah afford fi it run out....Nonstop flight to Ochi from Jamaica,” Tweeted one commentator.

“Anybody got nuh embassy link?? Caz mi wa get mi ochi visa enuh,” said another commentator on Facebook. 
 
“Mi say FB mi go embassy today n get mi Ochi visa. After tomorrow when mi [find] out fi go Ochi, Jamaica nah see bk mi face," added another who shared a graphic of her 'Ocho Rios Passport' on Facebook.