The government of Cuba has launched a new electronic visa platform, known as Evisa.

Key Points:

  • The new Evisa replaces the tourist card that allowed travelers to stay for up to 90 days with the option to extend for an additional 90 days.
  • The Evisa costs €22 (about US$24) and is valid for one year.

BAL Analysis: The new system aims to improve efficiency and security at all stages of the visa process and is part of the government’s efforts to modernize its consular system.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it will reopen its field office in Havana, Cuba.

Key Points:

  • The Havana field office will focus on U.S. immigration casework, offering interviews and processing pending Cuban Family Reunification Parole cases and Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.
  • The office will provide other limited services as well, including refugee processing and conducting biometrics collection for U visa petitions.
  • Services at the office will be available only by appointment.

Additional Information: A reopening date has yet to be announced, but the USCIS International Immigration Offices page will post updates in the coming weeks.

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

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

President Donald Trump ordered new travel and trade restrictions with Cuba on Friday, but stopped short of rolling back all of the Obama administration’s efforts to open up relations with the country.

Key points:

  • Obama-era regulations allowing commercial flights to Cuba will not be changed, but Trump reinstated a requirement that “people-to-people” visits must be led by regulated tour groups. Individual tourist travel remains off limits.
  • Trump will also prohibit business transactions with Cuba’s Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group, a conglomerate tied to the Castro regime. However, exemptions will be made for air and sea travel, according to numerous media reports.
  • Trump will not cut diplomatic ties with Cuba, and the embassy in Havana will remain open. The administration is also leaving in place Obama’s move to end visa-free residency for Cubans.

BAL Analysis: President Trump signaled during his campaign that he would take a harder line on Cuba than Obama did. While he announced changes that will take some forms of travel and business transactions off the table, he did not reverse all Obama-era changes. The restrictions Trump did order will not take immediate effect, but will be implemented once the Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce promulgate the relevant regulations.

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

Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday that the United States would end its policy of providing residency to Cubans who enter the U.S. without a visa.

The end of the decades-old “wet-foot/dry foot” policy, as it was called, came about after Cuba agreed to accept Cuban nationals who have been ordered to leave the U.S.

Key points:

  • Effective immediately, Cubans who enter the U.S. illegally will be subject to removal under U.S. law unless they qualify for humanitarian relief. Obama said the U.S. would “continue to welcome Cubans as we welcome immigrants from other nations.”
  • The president also announced the end of the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, which allowed Cuban medical personnel working or studying outside of Cuba at the direction of the Cuban government to enter the U.S. Obama said “medical personnel will now be eligible to apply for asylum at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, consistent with the procedures for all foreign nationals.”

BAL Analysis: The changes described above are consistent with Obama’s broader efforts to open up relations with Cuba. Obama leaves office a week from today, however, and President-elect Donald Trump has signaled that he will take a harder line on Cuba. BAL will continue to follow immigration-related developments in U.S.-Cuba relations and will provide updates on any significant changes.

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

Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.