Immigrant Visas
General Information
Immigrant Visas/Paroles
The Immigrant Visa/Parole Unit processes applications for immigrant visas as well as applications for parole. All applications for parole are reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the final decision in all parole cases rests solely with DHS.
Note that the Interests Section is not currently accepting appointment requests for parole under the Special Program for Cuban Migration, otherwise known as the bombo. Any change in the availability of appointments for bombo applicants will be announced on the Interests Section’s website.
Access to the Consular Section
Cuban police restrict access to the Interests Section. Cuban police allow Cuban citizens to approach the Interests Section only if their names appear on the Interests Section's daily visa appointment list or if they possess a written pass issued by the Interests Section.
American citizens should show their American passport to the Cuban police surrounding the Interests Section in order to approach the gate.
Consular officers respond to personal inquiries from American citizens about visa/parole/immigration matters on an "as available" basis between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM on regular working days.
Because applicants must first pass through the cordon of Cuban police before they can approach the entrance of the consular section, we recommend that applicants for immigrant visas and parole arrive not later than 7:00 AM on the date of their appointment.
Special Requirements and Circumstances
Since July 2002, the Enhanced Boarder Security and Visa Reform Act has required administrative processing for all Cuban nationals between the ages of 16-80. While we make every attempt to promptly issue travel documents to qualified applicants, at times it may be necessary to wait several weeks for the completion of the required administrative process.
The Cuban government does not allow Cuban citizens who obtain U.S. immigrant visas or transportation letters to depart Cuba unless they also possess a Cuban exit permit (tarjeta blanca). Cubans immigrating to the United States are subject to various fees levied by the Government of Cuba, totaling approximately US $850.00 per person. The United States government plays no part in this process, and cannot intervene on behalf of any individual to assist or expedite the issuance of Cuban exit permits.
Scheduling Appointments
Once the National Visa Center has forwarded the petition to the U.S. Interests Section and the petition has become current, the applicant can begin gathering all the required documentation for the consular interview. Applicants in Cuba can then ask a family member or associate in the United States to schedule an interview appointment on their behalf by contacting the Visa Information and Appointment Service.
Beginning in August 2007, the U.S. Interests Section implemented a new scheduling service whereby selected cases would be administered and scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC). The petitioner will be notified of the time and date of the interview appointment for his or her relative in Cuba by mail. The forms required during the consular interview can be accessed by visiting our family-based petitions link. Appointment availability can vary but generally, appointments for immigrant visa applicants are available within two months.
Reconsiderations
Applicants who are refused at their initial interview pending the presentation of additional documentation or information (under Section 221g of the Immigration and Nationality Act) will receive open appointment letters explaining what additional documentation is required and passes to return on any working day. The applicant may then return with the letter and pass no later than 8:30 AM on any regular working day of the week that is written on the pass to present the required documentation or information.
Filing Petitions for Immigrant Visas in Havana
Federal regulations state that only persons who can demonstrate that they reside in Cuba will be allowed to file an I-130 Petition For Alien Relative at the Interests Section in Havana. All persons not residing in Cuba should file their petitions with the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States.
Attorneys
The Immigrant Visa/Parole Unit appreciates the contributions that attorneys may make to the expeditious processing of immigrant visa applications, especially in ensuring that all required documentation is in order and properly prepared prior to the interview. However, the Immigrant Visa/Parole Unit does not permit attorneys to accompany immigrant visa applicants to their interviews or to participate in the interviews.
Affidavits of Support:
Help Get It Right the First Time
Almost half of all applicants for immigrant visas at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana are refused at their first interview due to improper preparation. Most immigrant visa applicants are unsuccessful because of problems with their affidavit of support from their sponsoring family members in the United States. In order to prevent avoidable denials and delays in processing an immigrant visa application, sponsors in the United States should exercise great care to insure that the affidavits of support sent on behalf of immigrant visa applicants are complete and correct. For more information on preparing affidavits of support, and for general immigrant visa information consult the United State Citizenship and Immigration Services website.