DOS Suspends Visa Processing at U.S. Embassy in Havana and USCIS Suspends Operations at Havana Field Office

• Update
• Introduction
• DOS Suspends Almost All Visa Processing in Havana
• USCIS Temporarily Suspends Operations at Field Office in Havana
• Conclusion

Update

The USCIS permanently closed the Havana Field Office on December 10, 2018. Most of its operations will be taken over by the USCIS's Mexico City Field Office. Please see our blog for more details [see blog].

(Mar. 6, 2018 Update): On March 2, 2018, the DOS announced that the U.S. Embassy in Havana will “continue to operate with the minimum personnel necessary to perform core diplomatic and consular functions, similar to the level of emergency staffing maintained during ordered departure” [see blog]. Although the DOS did not publish a new immigration update, the visa processing services and USCIS services in Cuba will presumably continue to be limited. We will post further updates as more information becomes available.

Introduction

On September 29, 2017, the DOS withdrew all non-essential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Havana. As a result, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) suspended almost all visa processing at U.S. Embassy Havana. On December 22, 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended operations at its field office in Havana, also as a result of the DOS draw-down. In this article, we will examine what this means for Cubans seeking visas through consular processing or filing forms with the USCIS.

To learn more about recent developments on U.S. immigration and Cuba, please see our blog post on an memorandum issued by President Donald Trump that touched on the subject [see blog].

DOS Suspends Almost All Visa Processing in Havana

Beginning on September 29, 2017, the DOS drastically reduced its staff at U.S. Embassy Havana, leaving only critical personnel. Accordingly, as we previously noted [see blog], the DOS suspended almost all visa processing at U.S. Embassy Havana:

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The DOS has posted its answers to frequently asked questions about what this means for Cubans seeking visas [PDF version]. We will examine some of the key points of the FAQ below.

While U.S. Embassy Havana is not conducting further visa interviews and has cancelled previously scheduled interviews, Cubans are not precluded from applying for a visa at another U.S. embassy or consulate. A Cuban visa applicant may apply for a visa at a different U.S. embassy or consulate online.

DOS noted that those whose visa appointments were cancelled at U.S. Embassy Havana are not eligible for refunds. Furthermore, the payments are not transferrable to another embassy or consulate. However, any fees paid for interviews at U.S. Embassy Havana remain valid for one year, and may be used for another visa application in Havana within one year of payment if the United States resumes visa processing.

U.S. Embassy Havana clarified that it has also cancelled previously-scheduled immigrant visa and Cuban Family Reunification Program applications. It stated that it would reschedule Cuban Family Reunification Program applications to the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. It stated that it would be contacting applicants with interviews scheduled between September 12 and December 31 to reschedule their appointments. Pending immigrant visa applications for Cubans will also be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. According to the FAQ, most applicants who had interviews scheduled at U.S. Embassy Havana should have already been contacted by the DOS. The DOS advised applicants to not seek visas to enter Colombia for interviews until they receive an appointment notice from DOS. Medical exams that were already completed in Cuba are acceptable for processing provided that they remain valid. Notably, this also applies to Cuban winners of the diversity lottery.

The U.S. Embassy Havana will still process visa applications in very limited cases. These cases are for diplomatic or emergency travel (A or G visas) or in “extremely rare emergency cases … when the applicant has a life-threatening illness requiring treatment in the United States.” In the latter case, the applicant must present a letter from a physician or medical facility in the United States stating that the physician or medical facility is (1) willing to treat the applicant for his or her specific ailment, and (2) detailing the projected length and cost of treatment. An applicant may contact the U.S. Embassy Havana to make an appointment if he or she is seeking a visa based on this limited medical exception.

USCIS Temporarily Suspends Operations at Field Office in Havana

On December 22, 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is temporarily suspending operations at its field office in Havana [PDF version]. This decision, which was prompted by staff reductions at the U.S. Embassy Havana, is effective immediately.

The suspension of operations at the USCIS's field office in Havana and staff reductions at U.S. Embassy Havana do not mean that Cubans are precluded from seeking visas or other immigration documents. The USCIS explained that its field office in Mexico City will assume the jurisdiction of the USCIS field office in Havana while the suspension is in effect. The USCIS field office in Havana only has jurisdiction over Cuba.

In light of the USCIS field office in Mexico City assuming jurisdiction over Cuba, the USCIS provided the following filing instructions for Cubans filing petitions or applications with the USCIS:

We have included contact information for the USCIS field office in Mexico City [PDF version].

Conclusion

The suspension of visa processing in Cuba and the closure of the USCIS field office creates an inconvenient situation for Cubans seeking immigration benefits in the United States. Those who have pending applications or who intend to apply for a visa or other benefits should consult with an experienced immigration attorney for case-specific guidance.