U.S. Embassy in Havana resumes all immigrant visa services

The U.S. Embassy in Havana recently resumed all visa services for immigrant visa categories.

Key Points:

• On Jan. 4, the U.S. Embassy in Havana resumed all immigrant visa services. This includes processing for immediate relative, family preference, diversity visa and K fiancé(e) visa categories.
• Immigrant visa applicants whose appointments were originally scheduled at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, will complete processing in Georgetown.
• Diversity visa selectees are reminded that the U.S. Embassy in Havana is not an option for picking an interview location. Selectees should choose Georgetown for their interview location, and their cases will automatically be reassigned to Havana, unless they were already scheduled at Georgetown.
• The U.S. Embassy in Havana’s consular section will continue to provide essential American Citizens Services and limited emergency nonimmigrant visa processing.

Additional Information: More information is available on the U.S. Embassy in Havana’s website.

BAL Analysis: The U.S. Embassy in Havana’s resumption of full immigrant visa services for Cuban nationals is welcome news, as many of these services have been suspended since 2017 amid a series of unexplained health incidents termed “Havana Syndrome.” The State Department said resumption is part of the broader expansion of the Embassy’s functions “to ensure safe, legal and orderly” immigration options for Cuban nationals. BAL will provide updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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