Effective April 1, 2018, Cuban citizens requesting immigrant visas to the United States will be required to visit the US Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana.
According to a statement from the US State Department, “we will begin transferring current immigrant visa applications and scheduling immigrant visa interviews for Cuban nationals at U.S. Embassy Georgetown, Guyana. Guyana will then be the primary site for processing immigrant visa applications for Cubans.”’
The first interviews will take place in June, the Department said.
Since January, immigrant visa interview appointments for Cuban nationals have been scheduled at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, the Capital of Colombia, after the US removed its personnel from its Embassy in Havana, Cuba. The personnel were removed after mysterious attacks on their health allegedly suffered by 24 diplomats and relatives on the island.
In determining an alternative location, now Georgetown, the US department said it considered a number of factors including availability of flights, visa requirements, space to accommodate additional applicant files, and availability of staff and the fact that Cubans do not need a visa to travel to Guyana.
“As we transition immigrant visa operations for Cuban nationals to Guyana, we will continue to communicate with applicants, so they have current information. No applicants should make travel plans until they have a scheduled visa interview appointment,” the statement added.
