Embassy of the United States

Nonimmigrant Visas

Anyone calling to make a non-immigrant visa appointment after June 1, 2009 will be required to use the Electronic Visa Application Forms (EVAF) at the time of their visa interview appointment.

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit processes applications for applicants who wish to travel to the United States temporarily. Applicants in Cuba should ask a family member or associate in the United States to contact our Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service at 1-866-374-1769, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to schedule an interview appointment on their behalf.

Given the restricted number of American consular personnel authorized to work in Cuba, the U.S. Interests Section is only able to schedule a limited amount of applicants per day. First time applicants can expect an average two year wait time for an appointment.

On the day of their interview, a determination of an applicant’s eligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is made. If favorable, the application undergoes necessary administrative processing to verify the applicant’s qualifications for the visa class requested. This process often takes 90 days, but in some instances, it may take several months or longer.

The U.S. Interests Section will contact the applicant by telephone as soon as this process has concluded and a determination has been made on the applicant's case. The applicant will then be able to come to the U.S. Interest Section, Monday through Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. to pick up the results of his or her visa application.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA BACK-LOG REDUCTION PROGRAM

In February 2009, the U.S. Interests Section (USINT) began a program to reduce the waiting time for a non-immigrant visa interview.  As a result of demand for non-immigrant visas in Cuba and the limitations on the number of personnel that can be assigned to USINT, the waiting time can exceed two years.

Under this new program, USINT's Visa Appointment Call Center contacts persons who have made appointments for family members in Cuba for January 2010 and after and offers them a new, expedited appointment.  As appointments are advanced, vacated appointments become available for new callers.

During the first month of this program, 950 applicants with appointments in early 2010 received appointments in March 2009. Those 950 appointments in early 2010 became available for new callers.

All applicants who obtain expedited appointments through this program must bring the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) the day of the appointment along with completed form DS-157, valid passport, (1) recent passport style photograph, and a nonrefundable fee of $121 convertible pesos.

The U.S. Interests Section will implement this program progressively, based upon the date of the existing interview, with the goal of advancing as many appointments as possible, as resources permit.

In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must first obtain a normal appointment through the Call Center.

Our Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service is currently expediting interview appointments for applicants scheduled between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and have been waiting for their interview appointment for approximately a year or less.

EVAF INSTRUCTIONS

What is the “Electronic Visa Application Form” (EVAF)?
The Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) is the new electronic version of the non-immigrant visa form DS-156 available at our website.  The applicant completes the form at the EVAF website, which is https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp?lang=1 .  This website creates a barcode that contains all the application data.  Applicants must print out all three pages of the form and bring them to the visa interview. For more information please visit our FAQ section.